Budnick sentenced to two more years in jail

In total, Budnick was sentenced to 30 months in jail, with credit for the six he spent before his trial started. He will be under probation for two years following his incarceration, and may not have any direct or indirect contact with the victim. He will also have a lifetime prohibition from owning a firearm, and will not be allowed to consume alcohol or non-prescription drugs during his probation.

The incident in question took place over two days in February 2011, when Budnick's ex-girlfriend, who will remain unnamed, was subjected to several hours of physical abuse.

Since being released from prison, Budnick has been in rehabilitation at the Last Door Recovery Centre in New Westminster, dealing with his issues of substance abuse. Several letters from supervisors testify that his work there has been exemplary, and he has even been offered a job after he is released. His sentencing had been delayed multiple times to allow him to complete his treatment.

The defence had hoped that the judge would consider a lesser sentence than the joint submission called for, and while Daley said his progress was the best he'd seen in his eight years in Fort St. John, he determined the 30 month sentence was appropriate given the severe and prolonged abuse. He added that had there not been the joint recommendation, and had he not done such a "commendable" job in rehabilitation, he would have considered giving him four to five years in jail, given his previous record of assaults and drug charges.