Senior ordered to abstain after series of booze related disturbances

PENTICTON – An elderly man who threatened a police officer and caused a disturbance at Cherry Lane Mall last month was released today, Nov. 2 after being sentenced to time already served.

Gerzon Kovacs was arrested Sept. 3, 2015, at Cherry Lane Mall after Penticton RCMP were called to deal with a disturbance.

Police arrested Kovacs after they found him shouting and swearing at patrons in the mall. While being transported, he told one of the arresting officers he was going to "shoot him with a shotgun."

Defence lawyer Robert Maxwell told court a psychiatric report found Kovacs to be mentally stable, but admitted Kovacs had difficulty keeping the peace after he’d been drinking. Kovacs had 64 incidents with police since January 2015.

“He’s a smart man – he knows if he drinks, he’s going to jail,” Maxwell said, adding his client needed to be ordered to abstain from drinking, as he had "become a real nuisance.”

The 65 year old, appearing by video, told court he had been “a missionary since 1966," claiming he "worked for God.”

“I’m not a drunk or an addict. Someone mixed something in my drink,” he said.

Judge Meg Shaw sentenced Kovacs to 60 days in jail, stating his time in custody was sufficient for the offences committed, noting Kovacs had been "chronically involved" with the judicial system since January, and had been in jail for an extended period because of difficulties in completing his psychiatric exam.

He’ll also serve 18 months probation, with requirements to stay clear of the Cherry Lane Mall property, and all liquor, wine and beer stores. He’s also prohibited from taking alcohol or drugs.

Kovacs will not have to pay $200 in victim surcharges, as Shaw noted the man only receives $113 per month for food and other essentials,  on a disability pension.

To contact the reporter for this story, email Steve Arstad at sarstad@infonews.ca or call 250-488-3065. To contact the editor, email mjones@infonews.ca or call 250-718-2724.