No bail for man accused of break and enter days after being released on similar charge

PENTICTON – A Cawston man accused of two break and enters will remain in custody following a court appearance yesterday.

Judge Gregory Koturbash said releasing Sheldon Evans on bail an “uncalculated roll of the dice to let him out,” and refused to grant Evans bail after hearing no solid plan for his whereabouts pending his release.

Evans is accused of breaking into the Penticton and District Society for Community Living facility on Industrial Avenue on April 7.

Police were called after an alarm was set off at the facility. They found Evans in a nearby alley trying to bike away from the area at 5:30 a.m. A search of his backpack revealed a flashlight and break in tools.

Evans told police he had a bad meth habit and was dumpster diving to support it. 

Police found fresh smudges on a glass panel of the compound’s greenhouse and footwear impressions on the community living property matching Evans, who was arrested and charged with breaking and entering and possession of break in instruments.

Evans was released on recognizance, but on April 22 was again apprehended by police after they answered an alarm at the Barley Mill Brew Pub at 4:05 a.m.

Police saw a man coming from the kitchen fire escape, who, when told to stop, ran away. Evans was caught a short distance away.

He claimed he had been searching through garbage once again, but a nearby search turned up a garbage bag full of cigarettes.

It was later discovered the pub’s cigarette machine had been emptied of its contents.  A ladder was found leading to the pub’s skylight, where access had been obtained.

Liquor was also found removed from the premises.

A search of Evan’s person turned up two meth pipes.

Prior to Evan’s most recent arrest, he also failed to turn up for an April 27 court appearance.

Crown Prosecutor Ann Lerchs asked Judge Koturbash to detain Evans because of his previous failure to attend court, his lack of reporting to his bail supervisor and because Evans had committed two break and enters in two weeks.

Defence lawyer Norm Yates said his client had been addicted to crystal meth for several years and had been trying to get straight, but had recently fallen off the wagon. He asked the judge to allow Evans to make bail so he could work at his family’s farm in Cawston, but the judge disagreed.

Evans’ next court date is May 10.

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