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Kelowna resident Chadwick Earl Milnthorp had three fake IDs on him and was sitting in a stolen 2019 Dodge Ram when police caught up with him in the fall of 2023.

The RCMP had followed the stolen vehicle and found Milnthorp, along with numerous associates, in an alleyway in Rutland. They were all taken into custody, and he was later charged with possession of property obtained by crime, forgery, and several identity theft-related charges.

The year 2023 saw record numbers of vehicles stolen across the country, with twice as many thefts as just two years earlier.

The 2022 model of the Dodge Ram came in second place in the top 10 of most stolen vehicles that year.

News about the huge increase in auto theft made multiple headlines and months after Milnthorp was caught sitting in the stolen truck, the federal government held a National Summit on Combating Auto Theft.

As theft cost the insurance industry more than $1.5-billion nationwide, governments across the country talked about tougher penalties for car theft, following public outrage.

But if Milnthorp was concerned about a harsher than normal sentence, he needn’t have worried.

On Sept. 26 at the Kelowna Law Courts, BC Provincial Court Judge Andrew Tam placed the 48-year-old on 18 months' probation.

Crown prosecutor Jason Hatherly said the most Milnthorp should receive is three months under house arrest or a curfew.

Milnthorp wasn’t charged with actually stealing the vehicle or doing anything nefarious with the three forged documents.

The court heard that the 2019 Dodge Ram had been reported stolen days earlier when police tracked it down to an alleyway on Rutland Road. There were numerous others at the scene and they were all taken into custody.

However, only Milnthorp was charged.

“Police conducted an investigation and determined that Mr. Milnthorp was the only person who could be considered culpable,” the crown said.

When police searched the truck they found three Indian Status cards, all with Milnthorp’s photo but with three different names.

The court heard how the names on the forged IDs were real people, but there was no mention of where and how Milnthorp got the forged documents, or what he may have done with them.

Faced with six charges, Milnthorp pleaded guilty to three of them.

“The events in this case is the type of event that isn't done sort of spur-of-the-moment kind of thing. It's an event that involves forethoughts of planning and deliberation,” the Crown prosecutor said.

Little was heard about Milnthorp’s life, except that he worked full-time and had a young daughter. He also has a previous criminal record for drug possession from 2019.

Ultimately, judge Tam sentenced Milnthorp to 18 months' probation, along with a $500 fine, and ordered him to do 50 hours of community service.

It’s not the end of his legal issues though, and he’s due back in court next month facing a charge of possessing stolen property and breaching a probation order. He’s also due in court in November for a charge of public mischief.

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