Man who threw molotov cocktail into Kelowna forest out of jail

A Kelowna man, who has been in jail for the past 11 months for trying to light bushes on fire in Kelowna’s Glenmore neighbourhood, has been given a conditional sentence of 223 days.

Stephen Leader was arrested, Aug. 16, after police were called about a man trying to light bushes on fire in a commercial area in the 1900 block of Kane Road.

READ MORE: Arson suspect in custody after bushes lit on fire in Kelowna

“On June 23, 2022, Mr. Leader pled guilty to a single count of committing an act intended to cause an explosion likely to cause serious bodily harm or death or serious damage to property,” Dan McLaughlin, communications counsel for the B.C. Prosecution Service, said in an email to iNFOnews.ca today, June 29. “The act was throwing a Molotov cocktail in a forested area.”

This incident happened a month after a man was arrested and released after being filmed trying to light bushes on fire in the forested area of Glenrosa in West Kelowna.

Both cases were in the midst of the worst wildfire season on record for the Kamloops Fire District.

READ MORE: West Kelowna man arrested after allegedly trying to start wildfire

Leader was released from jail on June 23 and has started his conditional sentence.

After that time, he will have to serve three years of probation and he’s not allowed to possess firearms for 10 years.

All other charges were dropped against him when he pled guilty to the “act intended to cause and explosion” charge.

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