A Prince George man has been sentenced to nine months in jail after he was found behind the wheel of a van that went missing from a local charity.
Dale Curtis Currie, 37, was issued the term Tuesday in Prince George provincial court, two weeks after a Tabor Lake area resident reported to police a suspicious vehicle - he could not find a licence plate on it - on Orion Road shortly after 6 a.m.
When the resident approached the white cube van and asked for identification, the driver refused and took off in a hurry, the court was told. Police were unable to locate the vehicle but at 11:21 a.m., the resident called back to say he was following the van along Blackburn Road.
The van pulled into a driveway and an RCMP officer, who found the licence plate attached at the top of the box, pulled in behind the vehicle.
Currie originally claimed he was using the van to pick up unwanted items for charity and that it was owned by a friend, but would not elaborate.
The officer then found the ignition had been punched out and later learned it had gone missing from the Hospice House Society at 3055 McGill Cres. The society was unaware it was gone because the van's keys had remained in its office.
Because it was not clear when the van went missing, a charge of theft over $5,000 was not pursued.
Currie pleaded guilty to one count each of possession of stolen property over $5,000 and possessing a weapon for a dangerous purpose after a small can of bear spray was found on him.
The term is considered a step up from the six months less time served he received in January 2013 for theft $5,000 or under.
He received 20 days credit for the time he served behind bars prior to sentencing, based on 1.5 days credit for each day served on the latest sentence.
Currie must also serve one year probation after completing the term and staying away from the hospice society's office is one of the conditions.
