A former Prince George man found guilty of leading police on a chase in a stolen pickup truck loaded with stolen industrial equipment 20 months ago will have to wait a few more weeks before knowing what his sentence will be.
Prince George Provincial Court Judge Michael Gray reserved judgment Friday after hearing submissions from Crown and defence counsels over what to do with Jonathan Kyle Relkey, 24.
Relkey was arrested Oct. 27, 2012 at the end of a chase that began at the Bon Voyage Shopping Centre and ended with him driving a pickup into a ditch near the Westgate Shopping Centre.
An RCMP sport utility vehicle that was in pursuit on the snow-covered road crashed into the back of the truck.
Crown prosecutor Marie Louise Ahrens argued for five years while defence lawyer David Donnelly called for three years. They were also at odds over how much credit for time served Relkey should receive.
In July 2013, Relkey was released on a plan to attend a treatment centre to deal with his drug addiction but in November 2013 he was arrested in Surrey on charges unrelated to those he is facing in Prince George and was taken back into custody.
Ahrens said Relkey should receive credit of 399 days based on the 266 days he spent in custody prior to his release multiplied by one-and-a-half for each day time served. Donnelly contended Relkey should also get credit for the additional 237 days he's spent in custody since his arrest in November 2013 because his bail was never revoked and the charges in Surrey have not yet been proven in court.
Ahrens submitted Relkey's arrest was the culmination of a series of crimes he committed over that particular weekend, "not for a few hours or a few minutes," and so he should receive consecutive sentences adding up to five years. Donnelly contended they were all part of the same act - saying he got caught up in the moment while on a drug binge with some others - and so, concurrent terms adding up to three years were in order.
Ahrens also noted Relkey has led police on a similar chase in the past but Donnelly said the most recent incident was substantially shorter and at a lower speed. Ahrens countered that Relkey's driving still put others in danger.
A date in early August was tentatively set for Gray to deliver his decision.
