Paul Braun (right) stands with his lawyer, Paul Varga (left), outside of the Penticton Court on Sept. 12. Braun accepted a plea deal for violating a city bylaw but now will return to court for another trial after allegedly not completing the community service hours he was assigned and not paying his fines. (Penticton Western News file photo)

Paul Braun (right) stands with his lawyer, Paul Varga (left), outside of the Penticton Court on Sept. 12. Braun accepted a plea deal for violating a city bylaw but now will return to court for another trial after allegedly not completing the community service hours he was assigned and not paying his fines. (Penticton Western News file photo)

Penticton panhandler going back to trial

Paul Braun allegedly did not complete the terms required as part of his guilty plea

A Penticton panhandler that plead guilty to violating a city bylaw will head back to court after allegedly not paying his fines or completing his community service hours.

In September 2018, Paul Braun agreed to pay $145 ($88 for the bylaw fines and $57 for the court costs) to the city for eight counts of panhandling in the breezeway between Main Street and the alleyway east of the street in the 200 block. He also agreed to complete 60 hours of community service for the city by Dec. 15, 2018.

READ MORE: Video — Panhandler sued by City of Penticton accepts plea deal

It is alleged by the city bylaw supervisor, Tina Siebert, that Braun did not fulfill his hours or pay his fines. Siebert previously told the Western News that Braun had completed some of his designated community service, but alleged he then just stopped showing up.

The city spent an estimated $26,000 in legal costs to bring Braun to court. At the onset of what was expected to be a three-day trial, Braun entered a guilty plea.

As part of the plea deal, Braun is not to be within 10 metres of the 200-block of Main Street for one year and he must comply with the City of Penticton Good Neighbour bylaw which includes no panhandling within 10 metres of an entrance to a bank or trust company, an ATM, a bus stop or shelter; the entrance to a liquor store, movie theatre, place of worship or sidewalk cafe; a payphone, a public washroom or, in this case, an enclosed or covered pedestrian walkway. The plea deal states that if Braun does not comply he will be arrested by RCMP.

Braun is expected to return to the Penticton provincial courthouse on Nov. 20 for the trial.

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Penticton Western News