Letter of Support from the Princeton RCMP
COURT NEWS - July 12 & 13, 2007
IMPAIRED DRIVERS LOSE PRIVILEGES
In Provincial Court in Princeton on July 12, Matthew M. Waddington lost his driving privileges for one year after pleading guilty to an impaired driving charge. His erratic driving had been spotted by police on April 5, 2007. He was apprehended and given a breath test which showed he was just over the limit with a .110 reading. He will pay a $600 fine.
Robert J. Pelly, age 33, from the South Okanagan, was stopped when police noted he had no tail lights. Pelly appeared drunk, and admitted he was. He entered a guilty plea and was fined $1,500 and loses his licence for a year.
David McLean, age 61, of Princeton, pled guilty to an impaired driving charge laid after police saw his vehicle drive across the highway. McLean had a number of priors from many years ago, but admitted to having an alcohol abuse problem. He was ordered to pay a $1,000 fine and serve 18 months probation with a condition that he abstain from alcohol. He lost his driver's licence for one year.
John Stacey, age 66, was apprehended on April 7, 2007, when police driving behind him on Highway 3 saw his vehicle drifting from the right lane. The lower mainland resident was taken for a breath test which yielded readings of .110. This old age pensioner was fined the minimum $600 and is prohibited from driving for one year.
LOCAL WOMAN SENTENCED FOR THEFT
An employee who steals from an employer is due for jail unless there are exceptional mitigating circumstances. Judge G. Sinclair found these circumstances in the case of Jennifer L. Macleod of Tulameen.
Macleod had been working at Princeton's government liquor store for three years when irregularities were noticed in her sales. Cash appeared to be missing. A video camera was installed to monitor her cash register, and film showed Macleod was stealing by pocketing the customer's cash.
When confronted with the evidence in August 2005, Macleod was remorseful. The 38 year old woman is suffering from serious glaucoma which is reducing her vision. She has three children at home, and a husband who is becoming progressively more disabled by multiple sclerosis. She told investigators she had taken the money to buy medications for her husband which were not covered by the government plan.
Judge Sinclair said jail is required in employee theft, but he found the circumstances exceptional.
"Sending you to jail would not serve the interests of society," he told Macleod.
He ordered Macleod to serve 18 months suspended sentence with a number of conditions.
JUDGE JAILS DRIVER ON WEEKENDS
In February 2006, Jason Willis was convicted on an impaired driving charge and was prohibited from driving for one year. Two weeks later, on March 4, police saw him driving and pulled him over.
He showed signs of impairment and was taken to the Princeton Detachment office for a breath test. Readings of .130 and .140 were obtained. He was charged a second time with impaired driving, and a charge of driving while prohibited.
Willis was ordered to attend at the Princeton Detachment on June 14 for fingerprinting. He did not show. As a result, a charge of failing to appear was added.
Willis appeared in Provincial Court in Princeton on July 13, 2007, to enter guilty pleas to these charges.
Judge G. Sinclair ordered Willis to serve 14 days in jail for the second impaired conviction, $500 for the driving while prohibited conviction, and $200 for failing to appear for fingerprinting.
Willis' lawyer hoped to get Willis off free on the failure to appear, stating Willis was probably in a detox centre he had attended last June.
The 34 year old Campbell River man will serve his jail sentence on weekends in his home area lock-up as he is working at a fly in, fly out logging camp.
Province of British Columbia Criminal Court Lists
