Accused arsonist was "on a harmless, fun adventure spree"? | iNFOnews | Thompson-Okanagan's News Source
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Accused arsonist was "on a harmless, fun adventure spree"?

Brandon Seberras-Pick, 20, pleaded not guilty to charges of breaking and entering and arson, despite admitting to police he had been on a “harmless, fun adventure spree” at around 2 a.m. Feb. 16.

“I’M YOUR FRIENDLY NEIGHBOURHOOD SPIDERMAN”

KELOWNA – The young man accused of trying to light a car on fire and illegally entering a home in Black Mountain while high on mushrooms in February 2012 will have to wait a little longer to learn his punishment.

Brandon Seberras-Pick, 20, told police he was on a “harmless, fun adventure spree” at around 2 a.m. Feb. 16. He also admitted to vague recollections of starting fires, but said he was too drunk and high to remember the details.

Crown prosecutor David Grabavac told the court Friday that Seberras-Pick put a burning lighter in the gas tank opening of a car. He also accused Seberras-Pick of entering an occupied home and telling the frightened residents he was just their “friendly neighbourhood Spiderman” before fleeing.

A melted lighter was recovered in the damaged gas compartment, however Seberras-Pick says he only tried to light the side view mirror on fire, and not the gas tank.

Judge Jane Cartwright was skeptical, saying “what other conclusion could I come to?” She noted that Seberras-Pick admitted he was highly intoxicated at the time and his memory of the events is likely compromised by the hallucinogens and alcohol he consumed that night.

Crown is asking for 18-21 months of jail, less time spent in pre-trial custody, as well as a lengthy probation.

Seberras-Pick's lawyer Dave Johnson called the acts little more than “a prank” and requested a conditional sentence of 14 days time served with a probationary period.

“The offences are pretty serious,” argued Grabavac. “I don’t think break and enter is ever a prank.”

Seberras-Pick has a somewhat lengthy record, with at least two property offences. He has served two nine-month probationary sentences and has twice completed community service.

Grabavac called him "reckless" with "an alarming lack of self control" and a conditional sentence "doesn't send a strong enough message."

In November, Seberras-Pick was found not guilty of lighting another house on fire that same night. At the time, Cartwright said despite the admitted acts of vandalism he committed that night, including leaving feces in a mailbox and stealing a wheelbarrow full of frozen food, there was no proof he tried to light the house on fire.

The sentencing will recommence March 7.

To contact the reporter for this story, email Adam Proskiw at aproskiw@infotelnews.ca, call (250) 718-0428 or tweet @AdamProskiw.

News from © iNFOnews, 2014
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