In provincial court in Nelson this morning, Andrew Stevenson pled guilty to eight charges including two counts of robbery, two counts of using a restricted or prohibited gun in a robbery, two counts of using an imitation firearm, plus break and enter and unlawfully discharging a firearm.
These offenses occurred in a variety of West Kootenay locations in the spring of 2014, including the Nelson and District Credit Union, Kootenay Currency Exchange, Kootenay Savings in Castlegar, and Johnny’s Groceries in Robson. Stevenson is presently serving five months for attempting to escape custody.
Stevenson was present in court to enter his plea, represented by Nelson lawyer Ken Wylie. Most of his court appearances have so far been by video link from jail in Kamloops. Two sheriff’s deputies stood near him in the prisoner’s dock.
Stevenson, who was injured while trying to escape from police prior to his initial arrest, was still noticeably limping.
Judge Donald Sperry agreed with prosecutor Sunday Patola’s request that Stevenson’s sentencing be put off while a pre-sentence report is prepared.
Pre-sentence reports are prepared by a probation officer for the court and consist of information about the accused person that may be helpful to the judge in passing sentence, including family background, education, employment, physical and mental health, and social activities.
The report will be presented at a sentencing hearing on June 22 in Nelson.
There was some discussion between the prosecutor, judge, and Wyllie about a publication ban on that hearing on the grounds information it contains might prejudice the trial of Stevenson’s co-accused, Krista Kalmikoff, who faces a similar array of charges, but has pled not guilty, and will be tried at a date not yet set.
Sperry made no decision on the publication ban.
