(STEVE ARSTAD / iNFOnews.ca)

PENTICTON - A Penticton man showing promise at straightening out his life received a conditional sentence in Penticton court this week for charges stemming from a vehicle theft more than a year ago.

Clifford Robert Dranchuk was charged with two counts of theft under $5,000, possession of break-in instruments and driving while prohibited, after police caught him in the driver’s seat of a Ford F150 reported stolen from a Wade Avenue residence around 4 a.m. the morning of Oct. 21, 2014.

A search of Dranchuk’s person upon his arrest also revealed lock picking tools and latex gloves.

Crown Prosecutor Nashina Devji told court Dranchuk’s criminal record included two priors for theft, two for fraud and one for break and enter. She also noted he had been a prohibited driver at the time of the incident, with three prior convictions for that infraction.

However, Devji noted Dranchuk’s positive pre-sentence report, his 'demonstrated insight' into his infractions and a mostly clean record of two years. A joint submission supported by defence counsel Kathryn Lundman requested 86 days’ time served and a nine-month conditional sentence followed by 18-month probation and a two-year driving prohibition.

Defence lawyer Lundman told court the truck theft was 'part of a distorted plan' hatched by Dranchuk after an upsetting argument with his girlfriend. She handed court several letters endorsing Dranchuk’s character.

Judge Gale Sinclair said he had known Dranchuk for some time.

“It takes time for some of us to grow up, and I guess you’re getting there,” he told Dranchuk, adding he was proud of the progress Dranchuk had made in advancing himself. 

The judge also noted Dranchuk’s glowing pre-sentence report.

On Tuesday, Dec. 29, he agreed to time served on the charge of driving while prohibited, in addition to a $500 fine. He also sentenced Dranchuk to a nine-month conditional sentence on the two theft charges and break-in instrument possession, in addition to nine months probation and a one-year driving prohibition.

To contact a reporter for this story, email Steve Arstad at sarstad@infonews.ca or call 250-488-3065. To contact the editor, email mjones@infonews.ca or call 250-718-2724.

News from © iNFOnews, 2015