Penticton man gets six months behind bars for break and enter, breach

PENTICTON – A Penticton man will serve seven months in jail after breaching bail conditions and participating in several break and enters in the city.

Nathan Wayne Chambers, 18, was sentenced in Penticton Supreme court today, Nov. 25, on one count of break and enter and one count of breaching curfew.

Crown prosecutor Ann Lerechs told court Chambers had just been released on bail Oct. 26, with a 10 p.m. to 7 a.m curfew condition, when he and an accomplice were reported rummaging in a Green Avenue carport in the early morning hours of Nov. 8.

Police received a second report at 6:50 a.m. of two suspects attempting a break and enter at a Wilson Street address, the description matching that of those in the Green Avenue carport incident.

Police attended the scene, where at 9:45 a.m., officers received word of two men stealing items from a townhouse complex on Wilson Street. The two men walked away when a worker on the site asked them what they were doing.

Police then spotted the two men rummaging through a dumpster nearby. They ran away but were apprehended.

Chambers was reported to be uncooperative and had to be forced into the police cruiser.

A search of the area revealed tools stashed in various locations and a shed on the site rummaged. A break and entry into a garage on the complex was also discovered.

Lerechs noted Chambers’ already lengthy conviction list, which included one prior for resisting arrest and 12 prior breaches. She asked Judge Gale Sinclair for a six to nine month jail term and 18 months probation.

Defence lawyer Robert Maxwell said he believed his client, who is in custody, was scared of his situation but hadn’t verbalized his fear. Maxwell said he had discussed his client’s crimes with him, advising him to expect a stiffer sentence in light of Penticton’s high crime rate with respect to break and enter offences.

“If you do stuff like this, you gotta do jail time,” agreed Judge Sinclair, sentencing Chambers to six months in jail for break and enter and 30 days for breaching conditions, followed by 12 months’ probation.

With time served, Chambers has six months and 14 days left in his sentence.

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