A man with a history of committing violent and sexual offences was declared a dangerous offender and sentenced Thursday to 10 years in prison.
Russell Amos, 33, will also be subject to a 10-year long-term supervision order upon completion of his sentence and must spend at least five years in custody before he can apply for parole.
Amos has committed most of his lengthy list of crimes in the Victoria area but the final straw occurred in Prince George in 2015 when he sexually assaulted a 14-year-old girl.
She and a friend, both described by B.C. Supreme Court Justice Marguerite Church as vulnerable youth who were living in group homes, had agreed to travel with Amos from the Fraser Valley to Prince George in a stolen car.
While on the way to the city and over the next several days, Amos supplied the girl with cocaine and crystal methamphetamine which she had never previously used. After about four days, Amos attempted to force sex on her while the two were in the vehicle.
The girl felt "scared and overwhelmed" while worried Amos had a weapon and would become violent and angry. The attack ended when Amos thought police were following them and drove back to where they had been staying.
In reaching her judgment, Church endorsed a joint submission from Crown and defence counsels. Over about a day-and-a-half, Church heard submissions regarding Amos' criminal history and psychological state.
Amos' has spent most of his adult life in custody for an array of crimes and is currently serving a five-year sentence for a string of robberies committed in 2015 on Vancouver Island. His record also includes three previous sexual offences including one on a woman he met at a bus stop after she had left a session of counselling at a sexual assault centre.
One judge commented that he showed "markings of predatory behaviour."
Amos has also had an extensive history of drug and alcohol abuse and a refusal to accept help. The sexual assault in Prince George occurred 18 months after he had completed a treatment program, it was noted.
According to a psychological assessment, Amos continues to show a high risk for violence and sexual violence that is driven by a wide range of risk factors. Amos has lately shown a willingness to take treatment and there has been some evidence of progress but more work is needed, the court heard.
Amos was also issued a lifetime firearms ban and will be on the national sexual offender registry for 20 years.
