Local lawyer witnessed part of crime spree between Kamloops and Vernon

KAMLOOPS – One of two suspects involved in a crime spree beginning in Kamloops and ending in Vernon has pleaded guilty to his charges, but Kamloops prosecutors won't be able to participate in his sentencing.

Roderick Bailey, 43, and Jodi Marie Pechawis, 34, were arrested in May after allegedly stealing lottery tickets, causing a crash and stealing a car in Kamloops. The duo is also accused of stealing more lottery tickets in Vernon.

But one of the witnesses to the Kamloops crash was a crown prosecutor in the city.

It wasn't said in court today, Aug. 22, which prosecutor saw the crash, but it has caused a conflict of interest for the Kamloops Crown Prosecutors office.

A prosecutor from outside of Kamloops has taken over the case.

Bailey pleaded guilty to charges including theft of a vehicle, possession of stolen property and failing to stop at the scene of an accident.

On May 27, the driver of a vehicle caused a serious crash in downtown Kamloops, leaving a man and woman with significant injuries. When a bystander got out of their vehicle to help at the scene of the crash the two suspects allegedly stole that vehicle and took off.

The suspects allegedly stole lottery tickets from a Vernon store the next day and were subsequently arrested.

Bailey is expected to appear in Kamloops Provincial Court Sept. 19 to fix a date for sentencing. He asked the justice of the peace if the case could be moved to the Native Court in the lower mainland, but it's not yet known if that will happen.

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