FILE PHOTO

(ASHLEY LEGASSIC - REPORTER / iNFOnews.ca)

KAMLOOPS - A man involved in a violent home invasion where a woman with terminal cancer was left with a broken nose and had several valuable items stolen from her property has been sentenced to four years in federal prison.

Robert Christopher Bomba, 38, was one of three perpetrators who held the woman at gunpoint last fall in Sicamous. Bomba was sentenced today, Sept. 10, by Justice Len Marchand while the two other perpetrators remain at large, their identities still unknown.

It appears the home invasion was a case of mistaken identity on the part of Bomba and his companions, according to Marchand.

"(The complainant) has no idea why her house was targeted. There is no evidence to suggest she or (her spouse) had any unpaid debt to anyone prone to collect unpaid debts through violence," Marchand said. 

READ MORE: Violent Shuswap home invasion suspect suing for 'emotional trauma' suffered in prison

Bomba was charged with multiple offences including unlawful confinement, disguising face with an intent to commit an offence, assault causing bodily harm, break and enter, use of an imitation firearm, possession of stolen property more than $5,000 and breaching a probation order.

He pleaded guilty on only two charges: break and enter to commit an indictable offence and using an imitation firearm to commit an indictable offence.

On October 24, 2018, the 60-year-old victim was home alone when she heard a diesel truck pull up to her property. She thought it was her partner who had returned home from work.

“(The complainant) went outside to discover two men and a woman carrying what appeared to be firearms and wearing bandanas covering their faces,” Marchand said.

One of the men was Bomba.

The unidentified man pushed the victim back into her residence and terrorized her while Bomba and the female suspect ransacked her house.

“Specifically, the unidentified man held his firearm to (the complainant’s) head and told her (that) her old man owed his boss money,” Marchand said.

The man threatened to kill the victim and kicked her in the forehead when she refused to tell her where the money was.

“(The complainant) believed Mr. Bomba condoned and or encouraged the unidentified man’s threats of violence. Mr. Bomba denied these allegations and the Crown did not produce evidence to prove them,” Marchand said.

When the female suspect heard movement coming from outside, the trio left taking with them a number of valuable household items including irreplaceable family heirlooms. These items were never recovered.

For an unknown reason, Bomba turned briefly with his bandana lowered towards cameras installed in the home. These cameras captured still images of him, Marchand said. 

“Those images were the only evidence that captured Mr. Bomba’s identity,” Marchand said, adding the victim was not able to identify the other two perpetrators.

They were wearing gloves and did not leave fingerprints and did not leave behind any other DNA, Marchand said. 

As a result of the incident, the victim of the home invasion suffers from constant headaches, nightmares and anxiety, Marchand said.

She has lost her sense of smell and still fears the other two perpetrators that remain at large may come back. Since the incident, the victim and her spouse have relocated from Sicamous.

She has also experienced significant financial loss associated with the robbery of her home.

Court heard a brief history of Bomba’s upbringing and criminal history. He grew up mainly in British Columbia and has 32 previous criminal convictions, most of them associated to property crime and breaches of court orders.

Bomba’s father died when he was eight years old and he was raised by his mother who had a number of boyfriends who would often use alcohol and drugs in front of him.

Court heard Bomba became desensitized by use of substances at an early age which started his own path of addictions. It started with cannabis and cocaine in his youth and then eventually he began using opioids and crystal meth as an adult.

Bomba expressed remorse in court stating he regretted his actions and the harm experienced by his victim.

Since being in custody, Bomba has taken steps to address his addiction issues including attending narcotics anonymous meetings and alcoholics anonymous meetings.

Bomba has been in custody since his arrest in October of 2018. After taking into account the time he has already served while in custody, he will have nearly three years left to serve.

He also received a lifetime firearm prohibition.

Crown counsel entered a stay of proceeding on the other charges meaning they will not continue with prosecution at this time. 

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