Former Dawson Creek councillor elects for supreme court trial

DAWSON CREEK, B.C. — A former Dawson Creek councillor will stand trial before a supreme court judge with no jury present for charges of breach of trust.

Shaely Wilbur — who also ran in the last Dawson Creek mayoral race against current mayor Darcy Dober — was charged for an incident that allegedly took place on December 1st, 2021 in Dawson Creek.

Breach of trust is an indictable offence, meaning it’s a serious crime with a long maximum penalty — in this case, 14 years in prison.

People accused of indictable offences have the right to choose, or ‘elect,’ whether they wish to be tried by a provincial or supreme court judge. 

If they elect to be tried by a supreme court judge, they can also decide whether they want a jury to be present.

Wilbur was initially meant to elect her mode of trial in August, but a series of adjournments and delays meant she didn’t elect until Tuesday, October 7th.

Wilbur was also scheduled to be arraigned, meaning she would have to enter her plea of guilty or not guilty. A representative from the BC Prosecution Service told Energeticcity.ca that she has yet to enter a plea.

Her next hearing is scheduled for Wednesday, October 29th, to set a date for a preliminary inquiry in provincial court. According to the federal government’s website, a preliminary inquiry is a hearing meant to determine whether there is sufficient evidence for a trial.