A man found guilty of charges related to a wild ride through the city's streets will get a chance to prove himself before a provincial court judge decides whether to sentence him to house arrest or time behind bars.
Dustin Daniel Heltman, 25, appears to have made a "change in direction" since he was released from custody on a recognizance, provincial court judge Thomas Woods said during a sentencing hearing Thursday, noting he has a steady job and is taking counselling.
However, Woods also noted Heltman has been out only since late April and has had a "troublesome" history when it has come to complying with conditions of release in the past, making the judge reluctant to agree with defence counsel's call for a six-month conditional sentence - a jail term served at home rather than in a correctional centre.
Instead, Woods decided to defer sentencing until at least mid-October. If Heltman can show he has "turned over a new leaf" during that time, Woods said he will consider a conditional sentence. Conversely, if Heltman fails to do so, he could end up in jail - Crown is seeking a year less credit of 108 days for time served in custody prior to sentencing, or 257 more days.
Crown is also seeking a five-year driving prohibition for Heltman for his actions during the afternoon of Nov. 14, 2015 when he rear-ended a pickup truck pulling a small utility trailer and then sped off.
Heltman, who had been prohibited from driving at the time, wound his way from the College of New Caledonia on Ospika Boulevard to the VLA, blowing through red lights, reaching speeds of up to 100 km/h and driving up onto a sidewalk to avoid RCMP, smoke pouring out of his van.
The matter was taken to trial, largely over matters of identification and Heltman's claim he had an alibi. Woods found Heltman's story lacked credibility and found him guilty of five offences, including dangerous driving, fleeing the scene of an accident and fleeing police.
Heltman's lengthy criminal record and "appalling" driving record were highlighted during the hearing on Wednesday. But it was also noted a series of the breaches he committed came at a difficult time for Heltman, when there was a murder-suicide in his immediate family.
Heltman is also currently in the midst of a year-long probation after serving a term in provincial jail for a break and enter in Vernon.
