Prolific offender who once stole from volunteer firefighters whines to provincial court judge: 'I want my car back'
Lorne Sims was once described as 'lowest of the low' type of thief after looting vehicles while volunteer firefighters were on a call
I was in courtroom 204 on Monday listening to some of the minutiae of brief appearances on mostly minor criminal cases. One of only two other people in the courtroom looked familiar. Oh ya, I’ve written about him before, a frequent flier who knows his way around the courthouse.
He's not a killer or a gangster or a fentanyl dealer or involved in any major crimes that would typically warrant headlines. Lorne Sims is the face of the person conservative tough-on-crime advocates picture when they shake their fists about so-called "catch-and-release" and "hug-a-thug" policies.
Lorne Sims has so many violations under the Motor Vehicle Act I’m willing to bet that legendary local RCMP traffic cop Const. Mike Sabulsky can spot him from 100 metres away if he's behind the wheel. Sims' entries in court services online run over five pages (there are 20 entries per page) and include nine domestic violence cases, so-called K files.
His name appears with co-accused who themselves are some of the most prolific of prolific offenders in the Eastern Fraser Valley. Names familiar to RCMP officers, judges, defence lawyers, public prosecutors, sheriffs. These are people who clog up the criminal justice system. People such as William Bishop, Cassie Ozmun, his son Jered Sims, and Christina Stephan, whose brother Brian Stephan might be the biggest prolific offender in the area.
Sims was in court on Monday in the wrong place with no paperwork following the wrong process to ask Judge Peter Whyte to demand the RCMP return his impounded 2013 Lincoln MKZ.
He looked dishevelled, dirty, was nearly lying flat in his seat as he slouched waiting his turn.
On August 6, 2016, at 2 a.m., Popkum volunteer firefighters were responding to a crash on Highway 1. As it goes with volunteer firefighters, they were awakened from sleep, and raced to the hall to do their “job,” their volunteer work as everyday heroes. Lorne Sims figured that was a good opportunity to loot their vehicles of wallets, cellphones, work tools and other belongings. He stole pagers and radios belonging to the firehall. A few days later while out on an all-day call, the firefighters were hit again.
In total, Sims stole approximately $12,000 worth of personal effects and equipment nine years ago.
The crimes struck a chord and a local school hosted a fundraiser carwash and bake sale where they raised more than $9,000 to help replace stolen items. It was a touching community moment with dozens of kids and teachers participating and hundreds of people donating.
How was the level of contrition from Sims? He called me at the newspaper after I reported on the guilty verdict to complain about my coverage. He told me that if he had a jury trial, the verdict might have been different, whatever that meant.
He also claimed that he cleaned his life up, “got off the dope” and doesn’t do crime anymore. What's that sound? That's frontline RCMP officers in Chilliwack chortling. Since Sims stole from volunteer firefighters, which was nowhere near his first offence, he has 10 motor vehicle act violations and 35 criminal entries on court service online, including those nine K files. That's not a typo: 35.
On Tuesday, Sims was on the court list for a file described as “return items.” Last August he was similarly in court for an application for return of seized items. Judge Whyte asked Sims what it was he wanted returned.
“I can’t read your writing,” Whyte told him.
“My 2013 Lincoln MKZ,” Sims replied.
“I thought it said your 'lunch from the RCMP,'” Whyte responded.
Sims said the vehicle was subject to civil forfeiture but that was discontinued and “they still haven’t given it back.”
Unfortunately, for a guy so experienced with crime and cops and courts and driving illegally, Judge Whyte had to explain to him that this was not the proper process. He needs to serve the RCMP with notice of his application so they can either accede to it or oppose it.
With that, Sims walked out of the courtroom, muttering to himself. I notice that he's charged with drunk driving from Feb. 23, 2024 in Abbotsford, a charge he's due in court to face on May 12 so, he'll be back. I wonder if he'll have his Lincoln back by then?
-30-
Paul J. Henderson
pauljhenderson@gmail.com
facebook.com/PaulJHendersonJournalist
instagram.com/wordsarehard_pjh
x.com/PeeJayAitch
wordsarehard-pjh.bsky.social