BC Prosecution Service Media Statements for 2017

December 19, 2017

BC Prosecution Service Approves Charges Against Police Officer in Fatal Shooting
Victoria – The BC Prosecution Service announced that charges of aggravated assault and assault with a weapon have been approved against a member of the Surrey RCMP involved in the fatal shooting of Hudson Brooks on July 18, 2015.

December 15, 2017

No Charges Approved in Valemount Police Shooting
Victoria – The BC Prosecution Service announced that no charges have been approved against members of the RCMP Emergency Response Team (ERT) who were involved in a shooting near Valemount, British Columbia on September 17, 2014.

December 14, 2017

No Charges Approved in Smithers RCMP In-Custody Death
Victoria - The BC Prosecution Service announced that no charges have been approved against a member of the Smithers RCMP involved in an in-custody fatality. On February 14, 2015 at approximately 11:00 p.m., a suspect was arrested and transported to the Smithers RCMP police detachment. Shortly after arriving at the detachment, the suspect attacked an officer and a physical altercation ensued.

December 11, 2017

BC Prosecution Service Files Appeal of Stay of Proceedings in R v Bacon
Victoria - The BC Prosecution Service announced that the Crown has filed an appeal with the Court of Appeal for British Columbia asking that the court set aside the stay of proceedings ordered by the BC Supreme Court in R v James Kyle Bacon.

December 7, 2017

Kamloops RCMP Officer Charged With Assault Causing Bodily Harm
Victoria - The BC Prosecution Service announced that a charge of assault causing bodily harm has been approved against Kamloops RCMP Cst Joedy Todd Henderson in relation to an incident that occurred on August 25, 2017, while he was on duty in Kamloops.

December 1, 2017

BC Supreme Court stays charges against James Kyle Bacon
Victoria - The BC Prosecution Service announced that charges against James Kyle
Bacon sworn in connection with the “Surrey Six” homicides have been ordered stayed by the BC Supreme Court. Mr. Bacon had been charged with first degree murder and conspiracy to
commit the murder of Corey Lal, one of six people who died on October 19, 2007 at the
Balmoral Tower building in Surrey.

November 10, 2017

Merritt RCMP Officer Charged with Assault
Victoria - The BC Prosecution Service announced that a charge of assault has been approved against Merritt RCMP Sgt Norm Flemming in relation to an incident that occurred at the Merritt RCMP detachment on May 15, 2017.

October 24, 2017

Special Prosecutor Concludes Involvement in Police Investigation of Nanaimo City Council
Victoria - On December 16, 2016, Assistant Deputy Attorney General Peter Juk QC appointed Mark Jette Special Prosecutor in relation to matters involving the Nanaimo City Council. The Vancouver Island District General Investigations Section of the RCMP had previously sought the assistance of the BC Prosecution Service in dealing with an investigation involving the Nanaimo City Council.

October 18, 2017

No Charges Approved Following Arrest by Prince George RCMP Officer
Victoria - The BC Prosecution Service announced that no charges have been approved against a member of the Prince George RCMP involved in an arrest of an individual on July 11, 2015. In the course of the arrest, the suspect suffered a fracture of his left leg. The incident was investigated by the Independent Investigations Office, which subsequently submitted a Report to Crown Counsel for review by the BCPS.

September 14, 2017

No Crown Appeal of Schoenborn High-Risk Accused Ruling
Victoria - The BC Prosecution Service announced that it will not file an appeal from the decision of the BC Supreme Court dismissing the Crown’s application to have Allan Dwayne Schoenborn designated a high-risk accused pursuant to the Criminal Code section 672.64.

August 30, 2017

Special Prosecutor Approves Charge
Victoria - The BC Prosecution Service (BCPS) announced that Special Prosecutor Brock Martland has approved one charge of sexual interference of a person under the age of 16 years against Roger William, elected Chief of the Xeni Gwet’in First Nation. The offence is alleged to have occurred on or about May 12, 2017, in Williams Lake.

August 1, 2017

Motor Vehicle Act Charge approved after IIO Investigation
Victoria - The BC Prosecution Service announced that a charge of driving without due care and attention has been approved against a member of the RCMP in connection with an incident that occurred on Highway 6 near Vernon on the morning of August 6, 2016. The incident involved a collision between an RCMP truck driven by an on-duty member of the Lumby detachment of the RCMP, Cst. Megan Valenta, and a motorcycle.

July 14, 2017

BC Prosecution Service releases Clear Statement following IIO investigation into motor vehicle fatality
Victoria - The BC Prosecution Service previously announced that no charges have been approved against a Westshore RCMP officer who attempted to stop a motor vehicle for a Motor Vehicle Act infraction in the early morning hours of April 5, 2016 in Langford BC. In order to maintain confidence in the integrity of the criminal justice system, a Clear Statement is released to explain the reasons for not approving charges in cases where the IIO has investigated the conduct of a police officer.

July 11, 2017

No Charges Approved following IIO Investigation into Motor Vehicle Fatality
Victoria - The BC Prosecution Service announced that no charges have been approved against a Westshore RCMP officer who attempted to stop a motor vehicle for a Motor Vehicle Act infraction in the early morning hours of April 5, 2016 in Langford BC. Within seconds of the officer’s attempt to stop the pickup truck driven by Kenneth Jacob Fenton, the pickup truck collided with a marked RCMP police vehicle driven by Cst. Sarah Beckett at the intersection of Peatt Road and Goldstream Avenue in Langford, BC. Cst. Beckett died of injuries sustained in the collision.

July 7, 2017

Charges Approved Against Nanaimo RCMP
Victoria - The BC Prosecution Service (BCPS) announced that a charge has been approved against RCMP Cst. David Buchanan arising out of a motor vehicle incident in Duncan on February 20, 2016. The case was investigated by the Independent Investigation Office (IIO), which subsequently submitted a Report to Crown Counsel.

June 27, 2017

Special Prosecutor Approves Two Charges of Uttering Threats to Okanagan MLAs
Victoria - The BC Prosecution Service announced that Special Prosecutor Kris Pechet has approved charges of uttering threats to cause death or bodily harm against Pavla Janeckova of Kelowna. The threatened persons are Premier Christy Clark and Speaker of the Legislative Assembly Steve Thomson.

June 21, 2017

New Special Prosecutor Appointed in case Against Former Deputy Sheriff
Victoria – On September 13, 2016, the BC Prosecution Service announced that Special Prosecutor Michael Tammen, QC had approved four charges against former Kamloops Deputy Sheriff Kevin Johnston. The charges include three counts of communicating with a person believed to be underage for the purpose of facilitating a sexual offence. An additional charge of invitation to sexual touching was recently stayed by the Special Prosecutor. On June 14, 2017 the Prosecution Service was advised that Mr. Tammen had been appointed to the Supreme Court of British Columbia effective immediately. As a consequence of this appointment the Prosecution Service has appointed a new Special Prosecutor to replace Mr. Tammen – Mr. Brock Martland.

June 16, 2017

Crown Files Appeal of Sentences in Animal Abuse Case
Victoria - The BC Prosecution Service announced that it has filed an appeal with the British Columbia Supreme Court asking that the court increase the sentences assessed in R. v. Keefer, Vandyk and Visser 2017 BCPC 142. The appeal has been filed under Supreme Court number 63894-4. The case involved charges under the British Columbia Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act (PCAA) and the Wildlife Act (WA) against employees and the directors of a dairy operation owned by Chilliwack Cattle Sales Ltd.

May 24, 2017

Additional Charges for Former Vancouver Police Constable
Victoria - The BC Prosecution Service, Ministry of Justice announced today that additional criminal charges have been approved against former Vancouver Police Detective Constable James Albert Stanley Fisher.

April 10, 2017

No Charges Approved following arrest by Smithers RCMP Officers
Victoria – The Criminal Justice Branch, Ministry of Justice, announced that no charges have been approved against two members of the Smithers RCMP involved in an arrest of an individual on August 14, 2015.  

April 10, 2017

Appointment of Special Prosecutor
Victoria - The Criminal Justice Branch, Ministry of Justice, announced that on April 5, 2016, the Assistant Deputy Attorney General Peter Juk QC appointed a Special Prosecutor in relation to allegations of sexual offences which allegedly occurred between March 24, 2017 and April 3, 2017 in Surrey.

March 31, 2017

Appointment of Special Prosecutor
Victoria - The Criminal Justice Branch, Ministry of Justice, announced that on December 16, 2016, the Assistant Deputy Attorney General Peter Juk QC appointed a Special Prosecutor in relation to matters involving the Nanaimo City Council.

March 30, 2017

Appointment of Special Prosecutor
Victoria - The Criminal Justice Branch (CJB), Ministry of Justice, announced that David Butcher QC has been appointed as a Special Prosecutor to provide legal advice to the RCMP in relation to an investigation being conducted into indirect political contributions and other potential contraventions of the BC Election Act.

March 20, 2017

Motor Vehicle Act Charge Approved Following IIO Investigation
Victoria - The Criminal Justice Branch, Ministry of Justice, announced that a charge of driving without due care and attention has been approved against a member of the RCMP in connection with an incident which occurred in Coquitlam on March 21, 2016. The incident involved a collision between a vehicle operated by an off-duty member of the Professional Standards Unit of the RCMP, Sgt. Christopher Lee, and an adult female pedestrian.

February 15, 2017

Special Prosecutor Files Appeal of Acquittal in Bountiful-Related Case
Victoria – The Criminal Justice Branch, Ministry of Justice announced that Special Prosecutor Peter Wilson, QC has filed an appeal with the Court of Appeal for British Columbia, asking that the Court set aside the acquittal of James Marion Oler on charges under section 273.3 of the Criminal Code alleging the unlawful removal of a child from Canada.

February 9, 2017

No Charges Approved in Vancouver Police Shooting
Victoria - The Criminal Justice Branch, Ministry of Justice, announced that no charges have been approved against two members of the Vancouver Police Department involved in a shooting incident that occurred on November 22, 2014.

January 30, 2017 

No Charges Approved for Mental Health Apprehension by Nanaimo RCMP Officers
Victoria - The Criminal Justice Branch, Ministry of Justice, announced that no charges have been approved against two members of the Nanaimo RCMP involved in an apprehension under the Mental Health Act on November 3, 2015.