Letter of Support from the Princeton RCMP
COURT NEWS - August 9 & 10, 2007
DRUGS LEAD TO HOUSE ARREST
Brian Cooper and friends were travelling from the Kootenay area to their homes in the Vancouver area when they were stopped in a routine road check on July 3, 2006. Police noted the smell of marijuana smoke in the vehicle.
The driver of the vehicle admitted to having a small amount of marijuana in his possession. At that point, police searched the vehicle and found 2220 grams of marijuana. All of the men in the car were taken to Princeton Detachment and placed in cells.
Cooper later admitted ownership of the marijuana and admitted he bought it in the Kootenays for $2,500 for his own use and to sell it to friends. He pled guilty to possession for the purpose of trafficking.
Cooper appeared in Provincial Court in Princeton on August 9, 2007, to be sentenced.
Crown asked for either jail time or a conditional sentence with a number of conditions.
Judge Hogan placed Cooper under house arrest for four months. Cooper will be allowed to go to his job, attend medical and correctional appointments and go shopping for groceries, but otherwise he is to be in his home. Any breach of these conditions will put him in institutional jail.
In addition, Cooper will be allowed no alcohol during his house arrest, and must take substance abuse counselling. He is forbidden any firearms, bows or explosive devices for 10 years.
Cooper apologized to the court and said he is turning his life around.
Judge Hogan advised Cooper to "write it off as a lunatic adventure and clean yourself up".
As a parting comment, the judge said, "Have a nice life and never come back."
JUDGE DISCHARGES WOMAN
An incident in Hedley on September 25, 2006, brought Teresa Henderson to Provincial Court in Princeton on August 9. She was involved in a dispute over personal property she believed her former roommate had taken. She went to the roommate's new residence in Hedley to demand the property be returned.
She was not allowed into the residence. She left angry and started her pick-up truck then hit the vehicle owned by the resident.
The 46 year old Henderson told the court she should not have taken matters into her own hands.
Judge Hogan ordered a one year conditional discharge and Henderson is to pay $100 to ICBC in restitution.
As well, she is to have no further contact with her former roommate.
DRIVER PLEADS GUILTY
In Provincial Court in Princeton on August 9, Clayton D. Swanson pled guilty to driving over .08.
Swanson was apprehended after police received a report of a possible impaired driver.
Police were advised of a description of the vehicle and licence plate number on July 6, 2007.
Swanson showed signs of impairment and was taken for a breath test where readings of .150 and .160 were obtained. As it was his first offense, Swanson was ordered to pay a $600 fine and loses his driving privileges for one year.
DRIVER FIGHTS IMPAIRED CHARGE
John D. Ryan, age 59, of Surrey, B.C., stood trial in Provincial Court in Princeton on August 9 and 10 disputing an impaired driving charge.
Three police officers testified that in the early morning of November 13, 2005, Ryan was given a roadside breath test after he refused to stop at a road check.
The roadside test device showed "Fail" and Ryan was subsequently taken to the local detachment office for a breathalyser test. Due to the failure of the police to observe him for 15 continuous minutes prior to this test, the evidence was discounted.
Ryan was also charged with possession of marijuana, but that charge was dismissed.
Judge Hogan listened to the testimony of Ryan regarding the events of that evening, but chose to reject Ryan's evidence due to some contradictions in his statements.
Ryan took the witness stand and attempted to explain his condition as being due to the cold and his allergies and many other medications. He added he would lose his job if he could not drive.
Judge Hogan's decision relied on the testimony of the police officers describing Ryan's condition at the time he was stopped on Coalmont Road.
The judge decided there was sufficient evidence of impairment at that time, and convicted Ryan of impaired driving.
Ryan had eight prior impaired driving convictions dating back 25 years.
Because these had occurred so long ago, Judge Hogan sentenced Ryan to pay a slightly higher fine of $800. Ryan's right to drive is denied for one year.
Province of British Columbia Criminal Court Lists
