Court Report: February 12th to 16th

Below are the latest sentences handed out from the Fort St. John and Dawson Creek Provincial Courts from February 12th to 16th.

Fort St. John Provincial Court, February 12th sentencing:

Blaine Andrew Kerr (born 1984)

Kerr was found guilty of driving without a driver’s license for an incident in Hudson’s Hope on April 28th, 2023. Kerr was fined $2,300, including a victim surcharge, which goes towards helping victims of a crime.

Kyle Robert Vickery (born 1986)

Vickery was found guilty of driving a motor vehicle without due care and attention in Fort St. John on February 10th, 2023. Vickery was given fines totalling $1,725, including a victim surcharge and a nine-month probation order.

Fort St. John Provincial Court, February 13th sentencing:

Raymond Percy Peterkin (born 1987)

Peterkin was found guilty of four counts of breach of release order, break and enter and commit an indictable offence, three counts of breach of a probation order, four counts of possessing or using a stolen credit card, breach of undertaking, and possession of stolen property under $5,000.

The incidents occurred in Fort St. John from December 2022 to November 2023.

Peterkin was given jail time served, 24 months probation, 17 days in jail, forfeiture and ordered to submit a DNA sample.

A forfeiture allows the government to seize property and assets “tainted” by crime.

Fort St. John Provincial Court, February 14th sentencing:

Sam Allen Arvid Tapanila (born 1981)

Tapanila was found guilty of possession of stolen property, possession of stolen property under $5,000 and three counts of breach of release order. The incidents occurred in Charlie Lake, Fort St. John and Baldonnel from December 2021 to January 2024. Tapanila was given 12 months probation, $200 in victim surcharges and 71 days in jail.

Dawson Creek Provincial Court, February 16th sentencing:

Alan David Salewski (born 1976)

Salewski was found guilty of assault and breach of undertaking for an incident in Tumbler Ridge on April 18th, 2023, and April 19th, 2023. Salewski was given an 18-month probation order, a suspended sentence and $200 in victim surcharges. 

A suspended sentence is where the accused is given conditions to follow.