Castlegar criminal court sees everything from attempted murder to fishing violations this summer
By Vi Kalesnikoff
There were more than 124 cases heard in Castlegar court over the summer (the months of July and August), involving at least 21 females and 103 males.
There were 29 assault charges: 14 common assault, two assault causing bodily harm, one charge upgraded to attempted murder, five sexual assault, eight charges of assault with a weapon, and one charge of assault of a police officer.
There was one charge of sexual interference of a person under 14 and possession of child pornography.
There were five charges of uttering threats and six charges of uttering threats to cause bodily harm. There was also one charge of causing a disturbance and one charge of criminal harassment.
There were two charges of break-and-enter to commit an indictable offence and 10 charges of mischief of $5,000 or under.
There were two charges of possession of stolen property; four charges of theft of $5,000 or over; three charges of $5,000 or under; and one charge of fraud over $5,000.
One person was charged with taking or occupying a vehicle or vessel without consent of the owner; another with displaying an imitation plate, and one charge of providing false information to ICBC. Failure to comply with the Income Tax Act netted 16 charges.
There were two fishing violations for using prohibited method, gear (barbed hooks), bait and fishing during closed time, and four firearms storage and possession charges.
There were several drug charges: two for production of a controlled substance; 13 for possession for the purpose of trafficking. There were four charges of trafficking in a controlled substance and seven charges of possession of a controlled substance.
Alcohol-related impaired driving charges netted the highest score with 33 persons having a blood alcohol reading of over .08; with 11 charges of failure or refusal to provide a breath sample, perhaps unaware that the penalty for “refusing to blow” carries the same monetary penalty as a reading of over .08.
Minimum fines are now $1,000 and a one-year driving prohibition anywhere in Canada.
Sentencing for a charge of impaired driving causing bodily harm and dangerous driving causing bodily harm cost a person a fine of $2,000, a two-year driving prohibition and 60 days incarceration.
There were three other charges of dangerous driving and eight charges of driving while prohibited or license suspended.
There were six charges of flight from or willfully resisting or obstructing a police officer, one peace bond application, three applications for changes to conditions or variations of an order, and one unreasonable delay hearing.
There were a total of 33 breaches of conditions of sentencing orders.
Castlegar Court dates for September: Traffic court 13, 14. Criminal trials: 20,29 Remand day is Sept. 22. Doors open at 9:30 a.m. The public is welcome to attend.
Lists of persons appearing are posted outside the courtroom on court days. Public information can be accessed by calling Enquiry BC at 1-800-663-7867 and asking for link to Nelson Court Registry at 250-354-6165.
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