Probation breach gets Penticton man seven days in a shiny new jail cell

PENTICTON – A Penticton man will be one of the first inmates at the new Okanagan Correctional Centre after sentencing on breach charges in Penticton court today.

Taylor Bradley Mcfadyen, 27, entered a guilty plea today, Jan. 16, to the breach charge and was sentenced to seven days in jail.

Judge Meg Shaw said Mcfadyen will spend his sentence in the new Okanagan Correctional Centre in Oliver as the facility begins processing prisoners today.

Crown prosecutor Kurt Froehlich told court Mcfadyen had been given a 12 month suspended sentence after being convicted of an assault charge on June 16, 2016.

On Sept. 24, 2016 police were called to a complaint of an assault in front of The Mule Nightclub on Martin Street in Penticton where they found the complainant, who had been pushed to the ground and punched.

Police were told the assailant had left the scene in a taxi and officers caught up with the cab, where they found Mcfadyen in the back seat showing signs of intoxication. He admitted to having two drinks, in violation of his probation terms.

Froehlick sought a seven to 14 day jail term for the breach.

Defence lawyer James Pennington told court his client had been dealing positively with his life following his conviction last June, but lost his job, following which he “foolishly went out and drank to console himself.”

Pennington asked Judge Shaw to consider a significant fine rather than jail time, saying a jail sentence could cost his client — who had since found employment — his job.

Judge Shaw noted Mcfadyen had $490 in outstanding fines he had made no effort to pay off until this morning, when he paid $300 of the debt.

Calling the jail term a “more appropriate sentence for breaches,” Judge Shaw sentenced Mcfadyen to a seven day jail term.

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