Letter of Support from the Princeton RCMP
COURT NEWS - February 8 & 9, 2007
COALMONT DISPUTE ENDS IN COURT
Two men who started as friends ended as adversaries in a court case heard in Princeton on February 8. William Radyk, a Chilliwack resident formerly of Coalmont, accused Warren Spence, a current Coalmont resident, of uttering threats.
In July 2005, Radyk offered Spence a dirt bike to use to go back and forth to a gold claim where Spence worked. Radyk did not own the bike, but had been left with it by friends from Hope. Radyk said he had told Spence the bike was to be stored in Coalmont. He said he had learned Spence was keeping the bike at the claim. Radyk said he went to the claim and loaded the bike into a pick-up and took it to his house.
Radyk told the court that, after he had removed the bike, Spence came after him, threatened him, and subsequently threatened him on further occasions.
Spence denied the allegations, saying he had put $550 in parts and repairs to the bike, and had kept it at the claim believing he had a right to do so. He wanted to talk to the owners, and although Radyk had told him the owners would be in Coalmont on a certain date, they never showed. He told Radyk he was going to check the serial number on the bike to see if it was stolen. Radyk removed the bike shortly after this. Spence asked Radyk why he could come up with no witnesses who heard the alleged threats although Radyk said the threats were made in public places.
Judge G. Sinclair heard all of the testimony and decided the matter could be settled in a simple way. He asked Spence if he would agree to have no personal contact with Radyk, and Spence agreed readily. The judge issued a peace bond.
JUDGE SAYS SHE'S 'TOO OLD'
Lila G. Smyth, a middle-aged woman from the Lower Mainland area, appeared in Provincial Court in Princeton on February 8. She was charged with two counts of possession of a controlled substance.She had been driving on Old Hedley Road last year when an RCMP officer noted erratic driving. He stopped her vehicle and when he asked for her driver's license and registration, he smelled a strong odour of marijuana. A subsequent search of the vehicle produced 29 grams of marijuana and .1 gram of methamphetamine. Smyth told the officer the methamphetamine belonged to somebody else.
Judge G. Sinclair sentenced her to serve one year on probation, do 20 hours of community service work, abide by a curfew, and to have no drugs or weapons in her possession.
As she left the courtroom, Judge Sinclair advised her she was "too old for this nonsense."
ASSAULT BRINGS PROBATION
In Provincial Court in Princeton on February 8, Anthony Aiken, of Princeton, pled guilty to assault of his sister. The 19 year old man had, during five months in 2006, hit his sister. On one occasion, she had gone to the hospital with bruised ribs.Information presented to the court indicated Aiken had a psychological disorder which caused sudden outbursts. He is being treated for the disorder and is receiving counselling.
Aiken was sentenced to serve one year on probation with conditions he is to continue his counselling, take his medications, and leave the Aiken home when requested to do so.
POLICE BRING LOCAL MAN TO COURT
Wayne Movick was brought to court in Princeton on February 9. He had been arrested by Princeton RCMP on a charge arising in Burns Lake.The 20 year old man pled guilty to driving while prohibited on July 17, 2006. He explained that his wife had been driving when she began to suffer abdominal pain. As she was pregnant, he took over driving her to the hospital. He was stopped on the way. Police called an ambulance for his wife, but charged him.
Judge G. Sinclair sympathized with Movick but said there was nothing the judge could do. Movick was sentenced to pay a fine of $500 and is prohibited from driving for one year.
ARGUMENT LEADS TO BROKEN GLASS
Deborah Gauvin and Roland Meier appeared in Provincial Court in Princeton on February 8 to stand trial on a charge of causing a disturbance.Witnesses testified that Gauvin and Meier had been arguing on January 5, 2006, on Bridge Street in Princeton. Meier had been walking backward in front of Gauvin and she was kicking at him and trying to strike him. Both were arguing loudly.
Meier grabbed Gauvin by the shoulders and the two were engaged in tugging back and forth. They lost their balance and Gauvin, with Meier still holding her shoulders, fell into the window of a local business, breaking the glass.
The central issue of the case was which of the two should have to pay the $695.45 cost of replacing the glass.
Judge G. Sinclair ruled that each of them should have to pay half the cost. Both were sentenced to one day in jail for causing a disturbance.
MAN CHOOSES GUILTY PLEA
Jordan Parker, a Lower Mainland resident, was to stand trial in Provincial Court in Princeton on February 9. Instead, he chose to plead guilty to a charge of possession of a controlled substance. Parker will have his charges waived to Vancouver where he will be sentenced this week.HEDLEY MAN ACCEPTS PEACE BOND
James Beaulieu was to have stood trial in Provincial Court in Princeton in March, but on February 8, he told Judge G. Sinclair he had information proving he was not guilty of uttering threats.Crown Counsel reviewed the information and Beaulieu was asked if he would agree to a peace bond. He was happy to agree to having no contact with Carmen LaVictoire and Linda Albright for one year.
Province of British Columbia Criminal Court Lists
