Meaghan Archer
Sentencing delayed for sex offender
PENTICTON — The sentencing for former city councillor Gary Leaman, who pleaded guilty to sex assault charges, has been delayed until June. Defense counsel Michael Welsh said the system is backed up because they are waiting on results of a psychological evaluation that was ordered as part of the pre-sentencing report. Leaman, 58, a one-term...
Psychologist: Ex-city councillor has narcissistic personality disorder
PENTICTON - Former city councillor Gary A. Leaman, who pleaded guilty of sexual assault, tested high on a court-ordered psychiatric exam for narcissistic personality disorder. Nalini Joneja, a clinical psychologist with Forensic Psychiatric Services was questioned by Crown prosecutor Catherine Crockett and defence counsel Michael Welsh on her report of the psychiatric exam done in...
Former city councillor sentenced to prison for sexual assault
PENTICTON - Former city councillor Gary A. Leaman will spend the next few years in jail—his punishment for sexually assaulting two young victims. Leaman, 59, pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual assault and was sentenced to a total of 21 months in provincial prison by Judge Gale Sinclair today at the Penticton Courthouse. Sinclair...
Former city councillor guilty of sexual assaults
PENTICTON -- A publication ban has been lifted on a prominent Penticton man charged with several accounts of sexual assault. Gary A. Leaman, a former Penticton city councillor and 2008 mayoral candidate plead guilty to two charges of sexual assault during an arraignment hearing in Penticton Provincial Court on Jan. 29, 2014. Leaman was General...
Native court workers protest for equal pay
OKANAGAN - Native court workers are standing up against the government asking for equal pay after being cut out of a deal five years ago that increased the wages of others but not court workers. Jack Kruger, a veteran native court worker and counsellor, has spent the past two days outside the Penticton and Kelowna...
This is why Penticton needs a detox centre
"THEY'RE NOT THROWAWAY PEOPLE." PENTICTON - A young man leaves a detox centre in Kelowna and heads home to Penticton—a taxi ride, a bus ride and walk away. His body is rid of the alcohol it was so dependent on only a week ago; now’s an opportunity for him to start fresh, get a job...
Fire on Fairview contained and under investigation
PENTICTON - Flames poured through the windows of an apartment building on Fairview Road Thursday in the early evening. The fire was on the fourth floor of the Kirkland apartment building at 803 Fairview Road, according to Global News. One person was taken to hospital by ambulance before fire crews arrived. Their current condition is not known....
Guess who’s coming to town?
PENTICTON - Legendary Canadian rock ’n roller, Burton Cummings is hitting up the Interior of B.C. this spring as part of his In Your Backyard Tour. Cummings, former member of classic rock band The Guess Who, will be at the Penticton Trade and Convention Centre along with his band and special guests Thursday March 12,...
Penticton airport expansion delayed
PENTICTON - A new bidding process for the planned expansion project at the Penticton Regional Airport is in place after the first one was considered unsuccessful. There is no deadline for when the process will be complete, however Public Works and Government Services Canada, and Transport Canada are working to complete the design and the...
City hits home run with baseball diamond improvements
PENTICTON - Baseball fields around town are set to get much-needed improvements thanks to a new partnership between the City and Penticton Slo-Pitch League. The fields at Lions, Parkway and Skaha ball diamonds will get new rooftops, players’ benches, a new utility shed, tractor and metal base plates (the peg-system used in the past caused...
Outgoing council has tearful goodbye at last council meeting
PENTICTON - There were tears around the council table during the meeting Monday night as goodbye speeches were made by three outgoing members, all of whom have served Penticton for nearly a decade. Coun. John Vassilaki, who has been a councillor for twelve consecutive years, went first, listing council’s accomplishments over the years and giving...
$100,000 slot machine malfunction benefits player
PENTICTON - A malfunctioning slot machine resulted in a $100,000 win for a woman gambling at Lake City Casino in Penticton last January and the B.C. Lottery Corporation has pulled all the malfunctioning machines. The lottery corporation only revealed the problem after an inquiry by the Vancouver Sun. A spokesperson confirmed today it removed 189...
Blanket drive keeps everyone warm this winter
PENTICTON - If you’re keeping warm under a blanket this winter, consider giving an extra to a person in need by donating to the local, annual blanket drive. This is the fifth year of the Cover with Kindness Blanket Drive, which was started by Greg Litwin, a notary public and director of the Soupateria in...
ELECTION 2014: Vote recount not necessary, according to city
PENTICTON - Members of the community are asking for a recount after voter turnout was lower than anticipated, however the city is not planning a recount request. Only 8,424 of the 26,806 eligible voters submitted their ballots for the 2014 election— almost two per cent fewer voters than in 2011. The community had high expectations...
19-year-old added to sex offender registry for drunk actions
PENTICTON - A young man will serve a conditional sentence in the community after he pleaded guilty to sexual assault and unlawfully entering a home. In October 2013, a complaint was made against Justin M. Cantelon, 19, that Cantelon had entered her bedroom window over the weekend and sexually assaulted her. Cantelon had been at...