Convicted sex offender David Wesley Bobbitt might face justice in Kelowna Law Courts instead of Penticton Provincial Courts if sheriff resources are in danger of being stretched too thin.
(SHANNON QUESNEL / iNFOnews.ca)
November 12, 2013 - 12:32 PM
PENTICTON - David Wesley Bobbitt may not appear in a Penticton court, depending on the resources available to guard him there.
Bobbitt is facing a dangerous offender and sentencing date sometime in the near future for violent crimes he committed in Penticton but the case might be moved to Kelowna Law Courts or another facility.
Staff sergeant Tracey Biro, with the Penticton sheriff's department, gave a security presentation to the courts recently. He has five staff and three court rooms and a prisoner's holding area to look after. The sheriffs also communicate and work with six RCMP detachments and staff can be away from the courthouse driving prisoners to and from custody buildings. In addition metal detectors might be brought in to scan members of the public.
Court administrators may decide there is not enough resources to look after Bobbitt in Penticton and have the dangerous offender and sentencing dates moved to a larger courthouse.
Bobbitt plead guilty in April 2013 to aggravated assault, aggravated sexual assault, assault with a weapon, two counts of unlawful confinement and two counts of making threats. These crimes were made against a young woman who visited Dave's Second Hand Store on Ellis Street on July 30 in 2011.
If the Crown succeeds in having Bobbitt declared a dangerous offender the convicted man might remain in prison for the rest of his life with no chance of parole.
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News from © iNFOnews, 2013