The man who left a Vernon nurse paralyzed following a December motor vehicle accident has been sentenced to jail time.
Michael Timothy George Heeley, 22, of Vernon, pleaded guilty to one count of criminal negligence causing bodily harm.
Court records show Heeley received a sentence Thursday in Vernon Provincial Court of nearly three years in jail – 968 days – and a 10-year driving prohibition for his part in an accident that left Robin Orcherton, a wife and mother, a quadriplegic.
Two other counts against Heeley were stayed.
On Dec. 3, 2014, at around 5:30 p.m., Vernon RCMP responded to a two-vehicle accident at 39th Avenue and Alexis Park Drive.
Orcherton, a licensed practical nurse, was on her way home to her family after her shift at a Vernon seniors residence.
She was stopped at a red light at the intersection when her vehicle was struck by a Jeep which Vernon RCMP said, after the accident, had been reported stolen and its driver had been spotted running from the scene.
Vernon RCMP officers worked on evidence from the crash scene and on leads from the public for two months before arresting Heeley in February.
For Tina Berg, a friend and colleague of Orcherton, the sentence isn’t surprising.
“I don’t think in these cases family and friends ever feel like justice is served,” said Berg. “I think Robin’s husband summed it up by saying three years for him versus a life sentence for Robin hardly seems fair. Unless by a miracle Robin was put back into her life as it was, justice really isn’t ever possible.
“I hope that young man spends some time thinking about life and the tragedy he has caused.”
Family, friends and co-workers have been rallying around Orcherton. They launched an online fundraiser to help with costs which, to date, has raised more than $16,000 on gofundme.com.
