‘Revolving door’: More jail time for North Okanagan chronic offender with 55 convictions

A North Okanagan chronic offender who has spent the last 25 years in and out of jail has been given a five-year jail sentence following his latest break-in.

BC Supreme Court Justice Gary Weatherill said that Vincent Silas Maxwell had been involved in the court system for “many, many, many, many, many” years.

“It has been a revolving door of committing an offence, being convicted or pleading guilty, being incarcerated, being released and over and over again,” Justice Weatherill said in an April 13 decision.

“You say that you want some help. You say that you want to end this cycle. I want you to reflect hard on where you are sitting today,” the Justice told the 41-year-old.

Maxwell’s latest conviction is for a break-and-enter that occurred in June 2024.

“(The home) was occupied by a young 18‑year-old girl. As he was rummaging through the home, he armed himself with an axe,” the Justice said. He also covered his face with a mask.

When he left the property in a stolen Honda CR-V he drove into a pillar on the home. He then reversed into the homeowner’s parked car before driving across the yard where people were present. 

“Although he didn’t strike anyone there is no question that by him doing so he drove the vehicle in a dangerous manner,” the Justice said.

The Justice said Maxwell had an “unenviable criminal record” that started in 2000 and continued. He has 32 prior property offences, four offences for violence and around 20 breaches of court orders.

In a joint submission to the court, Crown prosecutor Tiffany Zanatta and defence lawyer Claire Mastop asked for a sentence of five years jail.

The decision said Maxwell has an Indigenous background and his upbringing has been “tragic right from birth.”

“His parents were drug users and addicted to alcohol. There has been substance abuse by not only Mr. Maxwell but those around him, and he is suspected of being a victim of fetal alcohol syndrome,” the Justice said. 

Justice Weatherill accepted the joint submission, which with time already served behind bars leaves Maxwell with roughly 28 months left to serve.

He also gave Maxwell some advice.

“So, you have got the remaining part of your life to clean up your act and try to become a productive member of society. So, use this 845 days you are going to have left in the federal system to try and get yourself educated and get yourself clean and get yourself some rehabilitation,” the Justice said. “That is in your best interests and hopefully you will do that. So with that, I wish you the best of luck.”