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June 13, 2017 - 9:00 PM
PENTICTON - A man claiming to have running afoul of the law as a result of "hanging around with the wrong people” was released from jail for time served following sentencing in Penticton court yesterday.
Ian Scott Campbell, 51, entered guilty pleas on two counts of possession of stolen property under $5,000, one count of dangerous operation of a motor vehicle and one count of theft of a motor vehicle in Penticton court on June 12.
Campbell’s relatively minor criminal record served him well in earning sympathy from Judge Gregory Koturbash, who gave him kudos for turning himself in after prison officials mistakenly released him from jail.
Campbell’s troubles with the law began May 18, 2016, when he gave police the finger while riding a stolen bicycle at 2:45 a.m. on Main Street. Police stopped him for not having a helmet. He was found to be in an agitated state and appeared to be high on drugs or alcohol. Further investigation revealed the bicycle was one of several stolen from the Penticton Youth Hostel the previous day.
On March 1, 2017, police spotted Campbell driving a Chevy pickup at the Sun Leisure Mobile Home Park in Penticton. Police tried to intercept the vehicle, but Campbell drove off down Highway 97 at a high rate of speed, taking Airport Road to Green Mountain Road where he was intercepted by police.
The truck Campbell was driving had been reported stolen from an Apex residence on Feb. 28. Police later found the canopy dumped on White Lake Road. The vehicle’s plates had been taken from another vehicle as well.
Crown prosecutor Miho Ogi-Harris said Campbell’s criminal record was relatively short, with a lengthy gap in between offences, asking the judge for a sentence totalling five and a half months.
Michael Patterson, agent for defence lawyer Don Skogstad, said his client was not a “hardened criminal,” adding his motivating factor for his crimes involved a heroin addiction. He said his client would seek counselling and had a job to go to upon his release.
Patterson asked Judge Koturbash to consider time served, as Campbell had been in jail for 146 days with enhanced credit.
Campbell told the court he made “a stupid choice” and “didn’t want to go back to jail."
“I never want to be seen in front of you again,” he told the judge.
Judge Koturbash said it was “a bit surprising” to see Campbell back in front of him after a 10 year gap in criminal behaviour.
“Yeah, I think I hung out with the wrong people,” Campbell said.
He told the judge he wanted to be there for his three grown children and grandchildren.
“I hope you can stay off the drugs. The last time I was in the library, I couldn’t find a book about how to be a good grandparent when high on meth or heroin,” the judge said. "If you want to stay involved in your grandkids’ lives, you’ve got to stay clean. I can’t imagine gathering at the Christmas table with grandpa being high on heroin.”
Judge Koturbash sentenced Campell to time served, a year of probation and $300 in victim surcharges.
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News from © iNFOnews, 2017