A man who pleaded guilty in May to possessing a stolen bicycle worth under $5,000 was sentenced Aug. 20 in Prince George Provincial Court to 60 days house arrest and 40 days curfew.
After agreeing to the joint submission from Crown and defence lawyers, Provincial Court Judge David Simpkin said Jason Ross McLeod, born in 1986, must also spend a year on probation. Simpkin ordered McLeod to stay away from the Walmart store in College Heights, where the incident took place on May 9, 2024.
Simpkin decided that, after the 60 days of house arrest, McLeod will be restricted to his residence from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. daily during the 40-day curfew. After that, he will be on probation for 12 months.
“There are victims of these crimes, they're not victimless, even though the bike was recovered,” Simpkin said. “So hopefully you bear that in mind in the future. But it sounds to me as if you've got some goals and ideas going forward as to how you want to better your life.”
Court heard that McLeod has found stable housing near the Moccasin Flats homeless camp. McLeod has also applied for admission to a treatment centre on the Sunshine Coast.
“Given the traumatic brain injury he suffered, it's no great surprise that Mr. McLeod needs the assistance of the life skills worker,” Simpkin said. “I'm also aware that Mr. McLeod is a Metis person and that I must, therefore, consider that as a factor in the sentencing.”
Simpkin ordered McLeod to not posses any drugs or alcohol. He also cannot possess any tools that could be used to steal a bicycle, such as a hammer, screwdriver or pliers.
