Assault with knife gets probation

A 54-year-old man was given a suspended sentence and one year probation in Penticton Provincial Court today for assault with a knife.

In January, 2011 Richard Sacco got into an argument with the victim and during the altercation, Sacco put a five-inch long vegetable knife to the victim's throat, according to his sentencing hearing today.

The argument started, in part, over the placement of a video monitor. The victim accused Sacco of taking it from a business. Judge Anne Wallace credited a video clip that captured part of the exchange that day for making it “clear to the court the accused is the aggressor.”

She said while the victim's testimony was made without exaggeration, Sacco's recall of events was not consistent with other evidence.

In addition to 12 months on probation, Sacco was ordered to have no contact with the victim and provide a DNA sample.