South Okanagan dangerous offender admits sending letter from prison to man he shot

PENTICTON – After more than a half dozen appearances on a charge of failing to comply with a non-communication order, dangerous offender Ronald Teneycke entered a guilty plea in Penticton court today.

Teneycke, who is serving an indefinite jail term after being declared a dangerous offender, was charged after communicating with his last victim, Oliver resident Wayne Belleville, in December 2018.

Teneycke sent Belleville a letter in the weeks before Christmas in 2018, in violation of a non-communication order, while at the Kent Federal penitentiary in Agassiz.

Teneycke shot Belleville following a crime spree spanning several days in the Oliver area between July 16 and July 23, 2015, actions that were a culmination of a criminal record spanning 35 years.

He has made at least six court appearances with respect to the charge of failing to comply, starting in January 2019.

The proceedings came to a halt at a May 22 appearance after the presiding judge refused to accept Teneycke’s guilty plea.

Teneycke has since consulted and fired legal counsel, and most recently offered submissions to the court, claiming “abuse of process” over the procedural delays.

Judge Jane Cartwright offered Teneycke three options today, Aug. 21, including entering a guilty plea, entering a not guilty plea, or adjourning the session to look at other options.

Teneycke agreed to enter a guilty plea to the charge.

His next court appearance is scheduled for Aug. 28 to set a date for sentencing.


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Steve Arstad

I have been looking for news in the South Okanagan - SImilkameen for 20 years, having turned a part time lifelong interest into a full time profession. After five years publishing a local newsletter, several years working as a correspondent / stringer for several local newspapers and seven years as editor of a Similkameen weekly newspaper, I joined iNFOnews.ca in 2014. My goal in the news industry has always been to deliver accurate and interesting articles about local people and places. My interest in the profession is life long - from my earliest memories of grade school, I have enjoyed writing.
As an airborne geophysical surveyor I travelled extensively around the globe, conducting helicopter borne mineral surveys.
I also spent several years at an Okanagan Falls based lumber mill, producing glued-wood laminated products.
As a member of the Kaleden community, I have been involved in the Kaleden Volunteer Fire Department for 22 years, and also serve as a trustee on the Kaleden Irrigation District board.
I am currently married to my wife Judy, of 26 years. We are empty-nesters who enjoy living in Kaleden with our Welsh Terrier, Angus, and cat, Tibbs.
Our two daughters, Meagan and Hayley, reside in Richmond and Victoria, respectively.

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