Prolific offender charged with kidnapping 7-year-old at Chilliwack school appears in court
Joel Gordon McGillis, 50, remains in custody seeking legal aid in advance of a bail hearing
May 26, 2026
The 50-year-old man accused of attempting to kidnap a seven-year-old child from Central Elementary School in Chilliwack while wearing a cartoon mask two weeks ago appeared via video in Abbotsford provincial court Tuesday (May 26, 2026).
Joel Gordon McGillis was arrested after allegedly trying to remove the child from school property shortly after 9 a.m. on May 13 while apparently wearing a mask of the character Jax from the animated series The Amazing Digital Circus.
An alert citizen witnessed some part of the alleged abduction, intervened and brought the child back to Central Elementary.
The child was not hurt, and shortly later a man matching the description provided by the witness was located and arrested nearby.
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On May 14, Crown counsel approved one charge of kidnapping a person under the age of 16 under Section 279(1.1)(a.2) of the criminal code, which comes with possible life sentence.
While most child abductions are one side of a parental relationship, police say this incident appeared to be random, which prompted an element of fear and the Chilliwack RCMP to hold a media event on May 15 at the detachment.
A charge has been laid but police would still like to speak to witnesses who may have been in the area between Central Elementary School and the 46000-block of Margaret Avenue between 8:30 a.m. and 9:15 a.m. on May 13, 2026.
"If anyone observed an individual wearing a purple bunny-like mask, please contact the Chilliwack RCMP as you might have information that could assist the investigation.” according to a Chilliwack RCMP news release.
McGillis appeared via video on May 22 and told the court he did not have a lawyer. He appeared again May 26 and was asked if he had obtained counsel yet. He told the judge he was still unable to get in touch with legal aid from where he is in pre-trial custody.
The file was put over to Wednesday to see if he has a lawyer. The next step in the court process once he obtains counsel is to conduct a bail hearing to see if he should be released in advance of trial.
McGillis has an extensive criminal record with dozens of convictions in B.C. dating back nearly a quarter century.
Anyone with information should call the Chilliwack RCMP non-emergency line at 604-792-4611.
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Paul J. Henderson
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