A man has been sentenced to 15 months after breaking into a Queensway apartment while the owner was asleep.
Steven Ghostkeeper, a 42-year old man from the Saulteau First Nation, plead guilty to resisting arrest and breaking and entering on Thursday. He was arrested after police were called to the apartment at 1438 Queensway late at night on May 2, 2014. The apartment owner, a disabled man, was home asleep when Ghostkeeper had broken in. Ghostkeeper fled the scene and was later arrested after fleeing from police.
Crown prosecutor Richard Smith told the court that Ghostkeeper later told police he had chosen the residence at random and that he was seeking a place to sleep.
"When asked why he ran from the police, Mr. Ghostkeeper stated that he was scared of the police after he had witnessed his father be beaten by police when he was 10. He didn't want to get in trouble and go to jail," Smith said.
Smith said Ghostkeeper had previously served time for another break and enter of an unoccupied hotel room in Chetwynd. He had been on probation for this offense when he was arrested for the break-in on Queensway.
Defense attorney Keith Jones told the court that Ghostkeeper had sustained a brain injury as a child and that he had suffered from alcoholism throughout his life. He had worked previously several jobs, including as a welder helper, a cook and a dishwasher. He had also written a letter of apology to the owner of the apartment on Queensway.
In addition to the 15-month sentence, Ghostkeeper will be on probation for 18 months. His conditions include a prohibition on possessing weapons, a curfew and a restriction from being in proximity of the Queensway apartment.
