Letter of Support from the Princeton RCMP
COURT NEWS - April 12 & 13, 2006
JUDGE ORDERS HOUSE ARREST
A Coquitlam man will spend six months under house arrest and a further six months limited by an all-night curfew for his involvement with drugs.
Geoffrey Jolliffe, age 22, is an honour student at Simon Fraser University, but he went off the rails last summer. Princeton police found him in possession of approximately $2,000 worth of drugs, including mushrooms, cocaine and marijuana.
Jolliffe appeared in Provincial Court in Princeton on April 13 following a guilty plea for possession of drugs for the purpose of trafficking.
Jolliffe said he had fallen in with the wrong crowd and had spent the summer of 2005 doing drugs daily.
Judge G. Sinclair referred to the crowd as "idiots", saying he sees drug cases in court daily, and sees lives destroyed by drugs.
During his year of conditional sentence, Jolliffe is not allowed to use alcohol nor non-prescription drugs, and is not allowed to enter an alcohol vending establishment. His friends will be scrutinized, too.
Following his conditional sentence, Jolliffe must serve a six month probation.
In addition, he must do 50 hours of unpaid community service work.
He is prohibited from owning any weapons for 10 years.
Judge Sinclair reminded Jolliffe he is lucky to get away with this sentence, as most drug traffickers would be going to jail.
MEN PLEAD GUILTY
Fred Bell and John Sullivan appeared in Provincial Court in Princeton on April 13 in regard to a matter arising from a break and enter in their apartment in the former Princeton Hotel.Bell and Sullivan were sharing an apartment in the hotel and had a number of items stolen. They were sure a resident of another apartment had taken their possessions, and went to his door. A fight ensued, during which Sullivan assaulted the neighbour and Bell threatened to kill him. A third resident received threats when he became involved.
Bell and Sullivan were fined $300 each and both placed on a nine month probation.
DRUNK DRIVER LOSES LICENCE
Three people slated to stand trial in Provincial Court in Princeton on April 12 changed their pleas to "guilty".Gregory McCauley, of Penticton, was stopped by police on Highway 3 west of Princeton after noting McCauley was driving 50 kmph in an 80 kmph zone. On speaking with McCauley, the officer smelled alcohol and discovered an open drink in the vehicle. At the detachment, McCauley blew .260 both times. He was held in cells until he sobered up.
The 50 year old Penticton resident had prior convictions dating back 25 and 22 years. He was ordered to pay a $600 fine and was prohibited from driving for one year.
Wesley Ramsay, age 48, of Princeton, was apprehended when police clocked him doing 60 kmph in a 30 kmph residential area. He readily admitted to having six prior convictions, the most recent in 1994. He blew .200 at the detachment.
Ramsay was ordered to serve 14 days in cells in Princeton on weekends. He is prohibited from driving for 18 months.
Joel Ruttenburg was ordered to pay a $1,000 for his impaired driving conviction and is prohibited from driving for one year.
DRUGS SPARK AGGRESSION
A combination of anger, alcohol and painkillers put Christopher Josefson in cells on December 30, 2004. Police had gone to his home during an assault investigation, and Josefson had become very aggressive and violent.On April 13, Josefson appeared in Provincial Court in Princeton to plead guilty to charges of uttering threats, obstruction of a peace officer, and mischief (breaking a camera in the cell).
Josefson's lawyer explained his client had been on prescribed painkillers for an ankle injury, and had had a couple of drinks as well. He had become angry when a person he had always helped had accused him of assault.
The assault charge was dropped, but the 41 year old Princeton man will have to pay for the camera ($839.80) and will serve a six-month sentence of house arrest followed by six months of probation.
HEDLEY COUPLE PLEADS GUILTY
Craig and Sharon Snow, ages 44 and 39 respectively, entered a guilty plea to production/possession of marijuana when they appeared in Provincial Court in Princeton on April 12.Police executed a search warrant on the couple's home in Hedley and located what Crown Counsel described as an "unsophisticated" grow operation. The plants and equipment, as well as a rifle, were seized.
Their defence counsel said the couple was growing the drug for an unhealthy neighbour, and the rifle was for protection against bears.
The couple was ordered to serve 90 days of house arrest, but were given permission to walk their dogs (one person at a time) and to go shopping on Saturday afternoon. In addition, they may attend court proceedings and medical treatments.
They face a 10 year firearm prohibition.
WOMAN PAYS FOR BOGUS BILL
Danielle McGaw, age 29, of Vancouver, appeared in Provincial Court in Princeton on April 12 to plead guilty to a charge of using counterfeit money. She had attempted to pass a bogus $100 bill at a local service station to pay for gas.She had been given the bill at a bar, and the person who gave it to her warned her it was likely a counterfeit.
She kept it for a couple of weeks, but tried using it when she ran short of cash.
McGaw had no criminal record, and was ordered to pay a $1,000 fine and surcharge.
Province of British Columbia Criminal Court Lists
