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Repeat offender told eight times is more than enough: judge

KAMLOOPS - A B.C. judge had harsh words for a First Nations man, saying he took advantage of aboriginal-circle sentencing by repeatedly breaching his probation orders.

Douglas Jensen, 36, pleaded guilty to two counts of breach of probation, the seventh and eighth such charges he’s racked up since he was offered circle sentencing in September 2012.

The latest breaches involve separate incidents — one in which Jensen gave his probation officer an incorrect home address and another when he failed to show up for a meeting with his addictions counsellor.

“Considerable advantage was taken of the benefits of the sentencing circle,” provincial court Judge Stella Frame said Thursday.

“When there are six breaches of the same order, it’s allegation seven and eight too many.”

The Crown asked for a jail term of between 90 and 120 days, but Frame sentenced Jensen to 45 days.

Court heard Jensen spent 18 months behind bars after being convicted of assaulting a peace officer, dangerous driving and possession of stolen property.

He was granted bail prior to the sentencing circle, during which he was placed on a 22-month probation term. He was also ordered to enter into a four-year contract with the Tk’emlups Indian Band and required to abstain from drugs and alcohol.

Court heard that on Feb. 14, 2011, Jensen drove a stolen pickup truck into a house on the reserve before leading police on a high-speed chase, during which he drove the truck at a constable.

Jensen, who has been linked by the Crown to the Redd Alert aboriginal street gang, has more than 60 convictions on his criminal record.

Court heard he was a victim of sexual assault as a child.

News from © The Canadian Press, 2014
The Canadian Press

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