Veteran CFAX broadcaster Al Ferraby plans to plead not guilty to child luring charges, according to his lawyer.
Brock Martland, a senior criminal lawyer in Vancouver, confirmed Ferraby’s plea in an email to Victoria Buzz on Tuesday.
“He’ll be pleading not guilty,” Martland wrote.
Ferraby faces two counts of using telecommunications to lure a child, one under 16 and one under 18. He was scheduled to appear in court yesterday, but a colleague of Martland represented him and asked for more time to review the case.
Martland could not confirm the next court date, but it is expected the case will return to court on October 20th.
Martland has represented clients in several significant cases, including the Jake Virtanen sexual assault trial, the Surrey Six murder trial and appeals, the Air India bombing case, and the Yaletown bike-store shooting.
He also worked as senior counsel in the Cullen Commission of Inquiry into money laundering in BC.
Related:
- CFAX Santas Anonymous removes Al Ferraby from board after child luring charges
- Veteran Victoria radio host Al Ferraby arrested on child luring charges
The charges against Ferraby claim that he communicated with someone he thought was under 16 to engage in sexual interference or invite touching.
He also allegedly communicated with someone he believed to be under 18 to aid in an offence related to child pornography.
The Vancouver Police Department (VPD) states its internet child sexual exploitation unit started investigating Ferraby in September 2024. The alleged offences took place in both Victoria and Vancouver from September 17th, 2024, to January 10th of this year.
59-year-old Ferraby was arrested in February, however, no charges had been approved at the time.
Ferraby was arrested again on Thursday, September 18th, and released under conditions that prohibit him from communicating online with anyone under 18.
Ferraby has been with CFAX since 1994. He was the co-host of the morning show Mornings with Al Ferraby and Lisa Best. He last appeared on air Thursday morning before Bell Media suspended him. The company stated it had no prior knowledge of the investigation.
He has also been removed from the board of directors of CFAX Santas Anonymous, a children’s charity where he had served as a director but not in daily operations.
None of the charges have been proven in court.
