Charges relating to possession of stolen property during the 2017 wildfires were stayed by Crown shortly before the accused was slated to go trial in Williams Lake Provincial Court on Nov. 20, 2018.
Williams Lake resident Shane Brady, 38, was arrested by RCMP on July 10, 2017 after $65,000 in heavy equipment was seized from a property in the Beaver Creek area outside of Williams Lake.
Crown Counsel Gerald Comer with the BC Prosecution Service told the Tribune the decision to stay the charges was made when the prosecutor concluded the charge approval standard could no longer be met.
“In these circumstances a stay of proceedings is the appropriate course of action.”
Comer also noted there was a media release issued by RCMP about the arrest of Mr. Brady in relation to this charge on July 17, 2017 that “contains allegations that appear to be inaccurate.”
Read more: Wildfire looter nabbed for $65,000 haul
Brady was, however, found guilty of one count of possession of an unauthorized non-firearm, one count of possession of a firearm without registration, and guilty of possession of a firearm, contrary to order, for an offence dated Sept. 5, 2016 in Williams Lake.
For those offences he received one three-month and two six-month conditional sentences for the charges.
After being named in connection with the alleged crimes in July, 2017, Brady’s lawyer said at the time he received many threats from the public and his vehicle was burned.
news@wltribune.com
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