Jail for man who kicked in the door of 95-year-old Penticton resident

PENTICTON – A man a Penticton judge called “the poster boy for what happens to people when they get addicted to hard drugs” will spend another 13 months in jail for his crimes.

Judge Gale Sinclair made the reference in Penticton court today, Dec. 19, when handing a sentence of 30 months in prison to Paul Peter Kooistra, 46, for breaking into two Penticton residences, one while occupied by an elderly woman.

Crown Prosecutor Andrew Vandersluys told court a Penticton resident returning from work in Alberta found evidence of a break and enter attempt at his Rigsby Street residence on Feb. 14, 2016.

Police reviewed video surveillance of the residence and were able to identify Kooistra — who is well-known to police — kicking the rear door of the residence on three different occasions on Jan. 17, 2016. He tried several times but was unable to gain access, even after attempting to pry the door open.

Vandersluys asked Judge Gale Sinclair to consider a nine to 12 month jail sentence for the crime.

Crown Prosecutor Ashleigh Baylis asked for an additional two years jail time for Kooistra’s second break and enter attempt, which took place on Jan. 28, 2016.

A 95-year-old woman was at home when Kooistra managed to kick the door in after several attempts, around midnight. The woman was standing near the front door when he succeeded, which caused the door to fly inwards while tearing the frame out of the wall. When he saw the woman, he fled to the side of the house.

Police were called and responded with a police dog and Kooistra was apprehended a few minutes later.

Baylis noted victim impact statements in the second break and enter described how terrifying and traumatic the incident was to the elderly woman, who lived alone and continues to be apprehensive upon hearing unusual noises in the night.

She said Kooistra had prior convictions for breaking and entering, also noting a 20-year gap in his offending history. She said Kooistra was interested in a residential drug treatment program and had found himself a spot in Penticton’s Discovery House.

Defence lawyer Kathryn Lundman said her client never intended to break into an occupied residence, but had been stealing food and seeking shelter anywhere he could find it. Her client, who has been in jail for 327 days, had been clean since then and had developed some insight into his drug use.

She asked Judge Sinclair to consider six months imprisonment on the first charge and a one-year jail-term for the second.

Judge Sinclair noted Kooistra’s drug use spiralled out of control after losing his job two years ago. He had worked for B.C. Fruit Packers for 25 years as well as for an excavating company prior to developing a heroin addiction in 2012. He noted Kooistra’s apparent willingness to undergo rehabilitation.

With credit for time served, Kooistra has 13 months left in jail, followed by two years’ probation.

To contact a reporter for this story, email Steve Arstad or call 250-488-3065 or email the editor. You can also submit photos, videos or news tips to the newsroom and be entered to win a monthly prize draw.

We welcome your comments and opinions on our stories but play nice. We won't censor or delete comments unless they contain off-topic statements or links, unnecessary vulgarity, false facts, spam or obviously fake profiles. If you have any concerns about what you see in comments, email the editor in the link above.