Repeat offender deemed unfit to stand trial on new charges

EDITOR’S NOTE: The story has been changed as some incorrect information was previously published on February 20th.

DAWSON CREEK, B.C. — Nathan Whynot was deemed unfit to stand trial by a provincial court judge on February 6th for several charges.

Whynot was charged with multiple counts of breach of probation, multiple counts of assault, mischief under $5,000, mischief to property, breaking and entering, as well as multiple accounts of possession of stolen property under $5,000.

According to the BC Prosecution Service, in fit to stand trial hearings, parties involved will provide evidence to the court through a written report and witness testimony, and the judge will make their finding.

In the case of Whynot, the matter has been deferred to the Review Board, an independent tribunal, and he will remain in custody until a decision is reached.

The Review Board has jurisdiction to hold hearings to make and review dispositions when a court has deemed the person not criminally responsible on account of mental disorder or unfit to stand trial.

In 2020, Whynot was caught on video surveillance committing a $1.38-million arson in the Dawson Creek Walmart.

Initially, he attempted to plead guilty in October 2020 and fired his lawyer. Honourable David St. Pierre struck the original guilty plea from the record, noting Whynot showed little remorse and no responsibility for the crime.

In 2021, Whynot pleaded guilty for the second time, and the courts accepted the plea.

Whynot was denied bail in August 2022. 

A psychiatric report was also ordered at this time.

He was sentenced to jail time served and probation for the charge of arson in relation to inhabited property in May 2023.

In September 2021, Whynot was sentenced for drug possession charges dating back to 2019 in Mackenzie.

He was sentenced to 10 months in jail for three counts of possession for the purpose of trafficking, six months for obstructing a peace officer and one month for possession of a controlled substance.

Whynot has also been given time served for possessing a firearm without a licence or registration and occupying a vehicle knowing a firearm was present.