Brante Farrell

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KELOWNA - West Kelowna farmer Brante Farrell was sentenced  to two years less a day in prison followed by eight months probation for conspiracy to commit assault against Avery Haines in September 2018.

Farrell pleaded guilty to arranging an assault on the man who was living with and caring for his 96-year-old godmother Atlanta Braley.

Judge Ellen Burdett said Thursday, June 13, that if Farrell were to serve his sentence in the community, the punishment would not be proportionate to his crime. This is largely due to what Burdett described as the  "discernible, disturbing current of justification" in Farrell's reference letters provided by the community members of the Equilibrium Philosophy Association, a spiritual group that he is a member of and his deceased godmother was the leader of.

Further, Burdett deemed that although Farrell is a first-time offender with no history of drug abuse or mental illness, his crime was "not an impulsive or hurried decision" and should be treated accordingly.

She ordered that Farrell not contact Haines and ex-girlfriend Lauren Boyd during his time in custody.

Prior to sentencing, Burdett provided the court with information on Farrell’s upbringing. He is a second generation member of the Equilibrium Philosophy Association and was homeschooled his entire life. By the instruction of Atlanta Braley, the leader of the spiritual group that this case centres around, Farrell was not told who his father was until he was in his 20s, despite his father being actively present in his life.

Farrell’s father, Farley Paynter, was in court today along with Farrell’s mother and other loved ones to bid him goodbye before he was taken into custody

Farrell was told by police on Sept. 8, 2018 that he was no longer allowed to see his godmother.

“I became hysterical and I am responsible for choosing to go ahead with this crime at that moment,” Farrell said in a tearful statement.

Farrell said he tried going to the police and Interior Health with his claims of improper care. When they declined to intervene, Farrell posted an ad on Craigslist seeking an individual for hire who would break Haines' legs, arms and jaw for $800.

Instead, he was scammed by a 19-year-old who took his money and didn’t complete the act.

A short time later, a woman who helped Farrell with the ad decided to go to the police and confess. Farrell was arrested soon after, and also confessed.

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