Man caught on camera trying to set fire in B.C. forest out of jail after being sentenced
A British Columbia man who was seen by witnesses and caught on camera trying to light a fire in a forest during a particularly bad wildfire season has been released from jail following sentencing.
Stephen Leader pleaded guilty last week to one count of intending to cause an explosion resulting in harm, reported Castanet.net.
The charge stemmed from an incident on July 10, 2021, in which he was seen lighting a fire in a forest bordering a residential area of West Kelowna.
At that time, the province and particularly B.C.'s Interior was weeks into what was one of the most destructive wildfire seasons. The fire he'd tried to set was days after a record-breaking heat wave that led to hundreds of deaths and left conditions tinder dry in many areas.
He'd been charged with four other offences, but the Crown agreed to stay those charges in exchange for his plea, Castanet reported.
The 37-year-old, who's been in jail since last August, was released after learning his sentence last week. A judge ordered him to serve a 223-day conditional sentence, followed by three years' probation. For about half of his conditional sentence, he'll be living in a recovery house in Abbotsford under 24-hour house arrest. When he is allowed to leave, he'll be under a curfew.
He's also subject to conditions including that he must complete treatment and can't have alcohol or go into bars and liquor stores.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Spectacular aurora light show to be seen across Canada Friday night
A rare and severe solar storm is expected to bring spectacular displays of the northern lights, also known as aurora borealis, across much of Canada and parts of the United States on Friday night.
Which Canadian cities have the highest and lowest grocery prices?
Where you live plays a big factor in what you pay at the grocery store. And while it's no secret the same item may have a different price depending on the store, city or province, we wanted to see just how big the differences are, and why.
McGill University seeks emergency injunction to dismantle pro-Palestinian encampment
McGill University has filed a request for an injunction to have the pro-Palestinian encampment removed from its campus.
Swarm of 20,000 bees gather around woman’s car west of Toronto
A swarm of roughly 20,000 bees gathered around a woman’s car in the parking lot of Burlington Centre.
U.S. says Israel's use of U.S. arms likely violated international law, but evidence is incomplete
The Biden administration said Friday that Israel's use of U.S.-provided weapons in Gaza likely violated international humanitarian law but wartime conditions prevented U.S. officials from determining that for certain in specific airstrikes.
Barron Trump declines to serve as an RNC delegate
Former U.S. President Donald Trump's youngest son, Barron Trump, has declined to serve as a delegate at this summer’s Republican National Convention, according to a senior Trump campaign adviser and a statement from Melania Trump's office.
Mother assaulted by stranger while breastfeeding baby in her car: Vancouver police
A person was arrested in East Vancouver Thursday after allegedly entering a car while a mother was breastfeeding her four-month-old boy.
'We have laws': Premier Smith says police action justified in Calgary
The actions, including the decision to use non-lethal force, to disperse pro-Palestinian protesters from the University of Calgary campus were justified, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith said Friday.
'State or state-sponsored actor' believed to be behind B.C. government hacks
The head of British Columbia’s civil service has revealed that a “state or state-sponsored actor” is behind multiple cyber-security incidents against provincial government networks.