Judge Gail Sinclair has been practicing his trade for a fairly long time, highly respected for sure, and the judge seems even to have the respect of the people he sends up river.
Today, Sinclair seemed to be in the Christmas spirit but still firm in his decisions in Courtroom 100. It was a day of sentences.
“Let’s fly at ‘er” – said Sinclair.
One young lady with many charges before her, serving time in Alouette River Women’s unit, told Judge Sinclair, via video linkup, that she is doing fine, working hard, and participating in as many programs as possible. Sinclair wished her well and told her to finish her sentence and seek treatment.
Megan Anne Roberts, 26, was sentenced in Penticton Provincial Court today to six months. That sentence for breaching a conditional order will be served at the same time as one given to her June 11th.
At that time a judge sentenced her to 120 days in jail, a 9 1/2 month conditional sentence and one year probation after being found guilty for numerous charges stemming from her involvement in the theft of a van from the Penticton Boys and Girls Club on April 3. Charges included incidents from as far back as October 8 2012.
Roberts broke a condition of her sentence sometime around September 14 when police were called by a homeowner who advised that something strange was going on in her driveway. A stolen van was found but no driver. Roberts was arrested nearby.
Later in the morning, a 19 year old boy, name withheld, was told by the Judge you will have to serve some time for a long list of offences and breaches of court orders. The boy was crying with his grandfather in the courtroom. Tough love.
***
31 year old Oliver resident Jason Adam Poulin was brought before the judge with two prosecutors present because of the nature of the charges (federal and provincial jurisdictions). Court was told Poulin is a meth addict with a total of 26 convictions for various offences. He was in court for breaching a court order. Arrested in Penticton in violation of a curfew imposed by the court.
Poulin pleaded guilty and asked to be allowed to be home with family for Christmas. Judge Sinclair – said yes on certain conditions. Sinclair ordered Poulin to serve time in the Kamloops jail until December 23rd and be eligible for bail – if he could get a relative to post a cash/suriety of $1000. He would also be under house arrest.
So if all goes well he could be home for Christmas.
Poulin will contest a charge of possession of a controlled substance at a hearing in the future. Stating to the court “I didn’t have 10 grams of meth” with his lawyer calling the RCMP drug squad, the three musketeers.