Salmon Arm sex offender gets bail after breach in Kelowna

A Salmon Arm man who disappeared with his teenage daughters three years ago and fled across the country has just been granted bail after he was arrested for breaching his probation.

Caleb Guy Gerbrandt was released from custody Feb. 3 after being arrested for failing to report to his probation officer in Kelowna.

The 43-year-old made headlines in early 2022 when he disappeared with his teenage daughters and police said he was actively trying to evade them.

Both his daughters, who were 13 and 14 years old at the time, were supposed to be staying at their grandparents in Salmon Arm when Gerbrandt took off with them.

More than two weeks later, he was arrested in Ontario and his daughters were confirmed safe and sound.

Gerbrandt was never charged with abducting his children but at the time was facing charges of sexual interference and sexual assault on a minor.

Months later, he was also charged with possession of child pornography and luring a child on the internet.

He pleaded guilty to two charges of child luring and possession of child pornography and in December 2022 was sentenced to roughly 18 months jail followed by three years probation. He was also put on the sex offenders register for 20 years and given a weapons ban.

With time already spent behind bars, Gerbrandt was out by the summer of 2023 and breached his probation landing him another two weeks in jail.

Gerbrandt’s criminal record in BC dates back to 2018 and he’s been charged with break and enter, theft, weapons offences and breaching his probation.