Letter of Support from the Princeton RCMP
COURT NEWS - March 8, 2007
DRIVER LOSES LICENSE
In Provincial Court in Princeton on March 8, Destry Willis entered a guilty plea to a charge of driving without due care and attention. On July 16, 2006, a witness reported a collision and stated the driver appeared to be impaired.
The 28 year old Princeton man was ordered to pay a $600 fine and 15 percent victim fine surcharge. He is prohibited from driving for one year.
JUDGE GIVES A BREAK
An 18 year old Hedley woman appeared in Provincial Court in Princeton on March 9 to plead guilty to a charge of common assault. Kaleigh Fairweather had taken the law into her own hands on October 2, 2006, when she went to the home of another young woman to teach her a lesson.Fairweather and a friend lured Jennifer McKay out of the residence where she was babysitting and then attacked her, giving her a bloody nose and a number of bruises. Fairweather and her friend believed McKay was supplying alcohol and drugs to young people.
Fairweather had no prior convictions, and was given a one year conditional discharge, along with a reprimand by Judge Hogan. Fairweather is to have no contact with McKay.
LOCAL MAN PLEADS GUILTY
Justin E. Gee appeared in Provincial Court in Princeton on March 8 to plead guilty to driving with more than .08 blood alcohol. Police had observed a vehicle driving too fast on November 18, 2006. Gee was subsequently arrested and taken for a breath test. Results of the test indicated blood alcohol levels of .140 and .120.Judge Hogan ordered Gee to pay a $600 fine and prohibited him from driving for one year.
TRIAL ENDS IN CONVICTION
A White Rock man took his impaired driving charge to trial in Provincial Court in Princeton on March 9, maintaining he had not been legally impaired when arrested on May 8, 2005.David P. Faynor was the subject of a report to police by a Keremeos service station operator. Faynor overshot the pumps when he drove in, then backed up over the curb to align his vehicle with the pump. The attendant believed Faynor had too much too drink.
Police located Faynor's vehicle near Bromley Rock, 17 km. east of Princeton on Highway 3. He was pulled over, and police noted signs of impairment. They took Faynor to the Princeton detachment office and gave him a breath test from which readings of .200 and .210 were obtained. Police seized bottles of vodka and coolers and 17 cans of beer from Faynor's vehicle.
At this trial, Faynor testified that he had eaten onions which caused him to belch, but police had not seen him belch. He admitted to having had six bottles of beer that day but said he was driving up to standard.
This testimony contradicted statements made to police at the time of his arrest, when he said he had been up most of the night drinking and then drank beer while he was golfing.
Judge Hogan found Faynor guilty of driving while impaired and sentenced him to pay a $600 fine and serve a one year driving prohibition.
JUDGE ACQUITS DRIVER
John McIntosh, a 37 year old man from White Rock, B.C., stood trial on March 9 in Provincial Court in Princeton. He had been charged on March 6, 2005, with having more than .08 alcohol while in care and control of a vehicle.McIntosh said he had come to Princeton to put diesel fuel into his vehicle. He was too late for one service station, and did not attempt to find another that sold diesel. Instead, he went to a local pub for "refreshment".
A police officer had seen McIntosh walk unsteadily from the Princeton Hotel bar and asked him where he lived. McIntosh said he had a campsite out of town. The police officer warned him it would be unwise to drive in his condition, and went so far as to take him to a local motel. The officer said the motel sign said the office was still open.
McIntosh told the court he had rung the bell at the motel office once or twice, but nobody came. It was a chilly night, and he felt sick, so he walked back to his vehicle and climbed in to go to sleep. He was awakened by the police officer who arrested him.
Testimony from a tow truck driver indicated the seat of the vehicle had been in a reclining position and the steering wheel had been pushed up. The keys were in a console.
Judge Hogan gave McIntosh the benefit of the doubt, and acquitted him.
MAN AGREES TO KEEP PEACE
As a result of a domestic dispute, Dave Mack, of Princeton, appeared in Provincial Court in Princeton on March 9 on a charge of common assault. He agreed to settle with a one year peace bond, during which he is to remove himself from the presence of the complainant at her request.DRIVER GOES TO JAIL
During a routine road check in April 2005, police conducted a roadside breath test on Gary Lind, and he failed the test. He was taken to the detachment office for a standard breathalyser test, and subsequently charged with impaired driving.Lind disputed the charge in Provincial Court in Princeton on March 9. He said he had had three drinks with his grandfather and father early in the evening, but had gone home to bed around 7:30 p.m. He was awakened by a friend who asked him to drive a group of friends home from a local pub. As it was after midnight, Lind said he did not believe he would have been impaired so long after having had the drinks.
Judge Hogan was sympathetic to a point, but found him guilty as charged. The 29 year old truck driver had a prior impaired conviction, so was sentenced to the mandatory 14 days in jail, which he will serve at the Princeton RCMP lock-up on weekends beginning in April. His right to drive is revoked for one year.
Province of British Columbia Criminal Court Lists
