If you ever want a discussion of the usefulness of our criminal justice system and its onus on the rights and freedom of criminals here is one case for your review.

Andrew Robert Hardenstine, 33, first came to my attention in February when he was arrested in Summerland as a federal parolee – on the lam from a half way house in Kamloops.

Later this year he was charged in Oliver July 18 for several offences and then arrested in Penticton on Roy Avenue with a foldable automatic assault rifle and a 9mm handgun in a back pack Penticton September 11th.

This prolific offender has 57 previous convictions and prohibited from being in possession of a weapon. The offences mainly for drugs, assaults and possession of weapons.

At one court appearance his lawyer got so mad at the behavior of his client – he quit but the two made up later.

Now a provincial court Judge, Greg Koturbash,  has sentenced him to a term of almost 4 years which should put him back into federal custody.

Court records indicate a prohibition from driving on his release and a life-time ban on possession of any weapon (sentences handed out Thursday in Penticton Law Courts):

1175 days on Section 117 possession of weapons/against an order
1080 days on Section 95 possession of weapons
365 days on Section 91 possession of weapons
180 days on drug possesion
30 days on a MV Act offence
60 days on Section 249 dangerous use of vehicle

Some consecutive and some concurrent sentences with credit for time served.