Unsuccessful Penticton break-in nets offender six-month jail term

PENTICTON – A man who unsuccessfully attempted to break into a Penticton condominium complex will serve six months behind bars for his actions.

Jeremy Robert Royer entered an early guilty plea to one count of break and enter with intent to commit an offence as well as a breach in Penticton Provincial court today, Nov. 22.

Crown prosecutor Ann Lerchs told court RCMP were called to a Winnipeg Street address around 7 p.m. on Aug. 16 of this year on a complaint of someone attempting to pry open the entry door to a condominium complex.

Police attended the incident but the suspect had fled. Still camera images of the suspect were circulated to members of the Penticton RCMP, who were able to identify the suspect as Royer.

Citing a previous criminal history, that was largely made up of property crimes and breaches, Lerchs asked Judge Gregory Koturbash for a sentence of 12 months, noting Royer was on probation at the time of the incident for breaching probation on July 6.

She also asked for an additional month of jail time for the breach.

Defence lawyer Tiffany Zanatta told court her 45-year-old client had an aboriginal background, but had not suffered any depravities as a child. At the time of the incident, he was homeless and addicted to crystal meth.

She said her client wanted help with his addictions, which he has been struggling with since the death of his mother in 2013.

She said as a result of his substance abuse issues, Royer had suffered some “serious issues” including being run over on his driveway, being stabbed 17 times, getting shot in the foot and having his life threatened, resulting in him suffering from post traumatic stress syndrome.

Since being incarcerated in Okanagan Correctional Centre he had been taking steps to get treatment and resolve his PTSD issues. He was trying to eat a healthy diet and working out every day as well.

She said Royer’s early guilty plea and the fact he was trying to open the main doors of a complex, rather than an individual residential unit were mitigating factors, asking the judge for a sentence of three months for the break in attempt and 30 days for the breach.

Royer apologized to the court for his behaviour, telling the judge he had been living “a garbage life.” He said he was ready to accept whatever sentence the judge handed down.

“It’s becoming quite exhausting dealing with people coming before the courts with drug problems, and trying to fuel their habits by the way of property crime,” Koturbash said.

"Look at you, you’re educated, you’re not afraid of hard work. You demonstrated that by your record, and by the efforts you took trying to get into this building. You’re willing to work outside of regular work hours, you demonstrated this again by going to this building at 7 o’clock and trying to pry it open. Clearly what you need to do, is you need to get a job. You need to straighten up this drug addiction,” the judge said.

He sentenced Royer to a six month jail term for the attempted break in, in addition to 30 days for the breach. With credit for time served of 95 days, Royer has 125 days left in his sentence. He also faces 12 months’ probation.

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