“Mr. Reedel deserves the sentence he is going to get,” Judge Peter Doherty said in court on Monday.
Doherty gave 26-year-old Campbell River man William Reedel the maximum penalty the Crown asked for in relation to thefts and a boat chase on and near Quadra and Cortes Islands in mid-November.
He received a stay of proceedings for dangerous operation of a vessel or towed object and mischief to property. However, he was sentenced to 18 months in jail, two years probation and a DNA order for theft of a motor vehicle, two counts break and enter to commit an indictable offence and theft over $5000, which he pleaded guilty to at an earlier date.
“I don’t know what else to do,” Doherty told court as he sentenced Reedel. “You sir, are on the wrong path in life.”
Doherty mentioned Reedel’s past criminal record, which includes a robbery, and warned Reedel that if he commits another serious crime he will end up in a federal penitentiary.
Crown attorney David Fitzsimmons recounted the police reports for the incident which started in the early hours of Wed., Nov. 16.
Quadra Island RCMP received a report that a Quadra Island resident’s truck had been stolen from their driveway at 3:30 a.m.
Then, a boat was then stolen from Heriot Bay and a second truck was reported stolen from a residence on Cortes Island.
Soon after, reports of break and enters at the Cortes Market and the Squirrel Cove General Store followed between 5 and 6 a.m. Cigarettes, alcohol and cash were stolen from the businesses.
Fitzsimmons told court that two men and a woman were spotted in one of the stolen vehicles by a sand truck driver.
Fitzsimmons pointed out that the woman seen with the two men was not seen again during the incident.
The two men were then seen at the Whaletown Government dock trying to start a skiff filled with the stolen goods. They were unsuccessful, but transferred the goods over to a larger boat called the West Coast Echo.
According to Fitzsimmons, they were followed by a police helicopter and boat, and a coast guard boat was called in.
During a boat chase that lasted until late morning the weather picked up, Fitzsimmons told court.
“The weather conditions were described as rough with rain and wind,” said Fitzsimmons. “Six to eight foot swells (were) rocking the boat.”
The coast guard boat circled the stolen boat but had to take evasive measures after the stolen boat was used to try to ram it.
Finally, when the stolen boat docked in Heriot Bay, after many police orders to do so, one of the men ran and Reedel stayed on the boat, Fitzsimmons told court.
The man who ran was arrested on the dock.
Meanwhile, police entered the boat with a police dog and Reedel was bit in the leg. Fitzsimmons told court Reedel was aggressive towards police for the duration of their dealings with him.
“He continued to be aggressive, kicking and spitting at police,” said Fitzsimmons, adding that his demeanour varied from very aggressive to almost asleep.
He was taken to Campbell River Hospital for treatment of the leg wound and had to wear a spitting mask for another seven hours as he was aggressive towards hospital workers.
Defence attorney James Hormoth said he did not have much to add.
“This is essentially a joint submission,” he told court.
Jonathan Enns is the co-accused. He is scheduled to appear in court today.
