A Prince George-area man has been sentenced to 90 days in jail and three years probation for his role in an attack four years ago that involved a baseball bat and a Taser.
Christopher Anthony Hornby, 24, was issued the term last week by provincial court judge Michael Brecknell, who sentenced Hornby's accomplice, John Geofferey Last, 29, to three years probation in March.
On Oct. 10, 2011, the two burst into a 2000 block Central Street home where Last hit the victim with a baseball bat using an overhand swing and then struck him about the head and arms. Hornby then Tasered the man and punched him in the stomach.
The two had been acting in the name of another man, who had gotten into a shoving match with the victim earlier in the evening during a dispute over a girlfriend.
After the victim had left the scene, the man called in Hornby and, claiming he had been beaten with a hammer, urged him to go after his foe.
Hornby, in turn, brought along Last.
The victim was taken to hospital with a potentially life-threatening injury. He was discharged about six hours later but has needed follow-up care for persisting pain and other problems.
According to his victim impact statement, he suffered extreme pain for two years, had no feeling on his left side for over a year and is no longer able to run or enjoy active outdoor recreation with his family.
In his reasons for judgment, Brecknell went over a troubled past for Hornby, who was expelled from school and kicked out of his home at age 15 and went to live on the streets in Prince George where he was involved in the local drug culture.
Last pleaded guilty to one count of assault with a weapon following a preliminary inquiry. Hornby pleaded guilty to assault with a weapon and being unlawfully in a dwelling house, downgraded from break and enter which would have implied he had committed a home invasion.
Hornby first entered the pleas, then withdrew them and then pleaded guilty once more.
For assault with a weapon, Brecknell decided on a similar sentence to Last's, noting Hornby initially misled police and wavered in his guilty pleas but also played a lesser role in inflicting the injuries.
As for being unlawfully in a dwelling house, Brecknell said six months would be an appropriate sentence but also noted Hornby had spent 36 days in custody after his arrest and, on a basis of 1.5 days for each day served prior to sentencing, should receive credit of 54 days.
Brecknell also noted Hornby now looks to be employed on a regular and full-time basis and so allowed him to serve the 90 days on weekends.
Both Hornby's and Last's probations come with a suspended sentence.
