Kamloops serial rapist found guilty on six of nine charges – Kamloops News

Photo: RCMP

Joel Eric Carlson

A jury convicted a Kamloops serial rapist on Thursday night, finding Joel Eric Carlson guilty of six of the nine sexual assault charges against him.

Shortly after 8:30 p.m., the jury returned with their verdict. They had begun deliberating the previous evening.

In the trial against the 32-year-old, seven women testified as plaintiffs and described events that took place up to eleven years ago.

The women range in age from 26 to 32. Four of them said they met Carlson on Tinder, two said they met him at the gym and one said she met him at a party.

Some of the women had long-term relationships with Carlson, others met him only once or a few times.

The complainants came forward after news reports about Carlson in 2020. Police released his mugshot along with a press release looking for additional victims after a young girl in Vernon accused him of sexual assault.

Carlson was charged with the Kamloops crimes in 2021. At the time, Kamloops miners said the number of women who came forward “reminds us of how many sexual assaults occur that are never reported to police for numerous reasons.”

It is not known how many women have come forward, but as of last year, court documents in Carlson’s case listed 10 plaintiffs – eight from Kamloops and two from Abbotsford.

Carlson, who likely faces a lengthy prison sentence, has been in jail for over a year. His bail was revoked last spring after he was arrested for allegedly violating the terms of his house arrest following his 2020 conviction of sexual assault in Vernon.

He is due back in court on July 15, when lawyers are expected to set a date for sentencing.