Assault stemmed from grow-op gone bad

Bad blood resulting from a failed marijuana grow-up triggered a violent incident in Oliver for which the Crown on Thursday sought a 53-month prison term.

Bryce Michael Williamson, 29, has pleaded guilty to a total of 14 offences, including break and enter, assault with a weapon and uttering threats, in relation to four separate incidents.

Court heard Williamson was first arrested Dec. 5, 2015, at a home in Oliver after assaulting the caretaker and threatening his life.

Crown counsel Kurt Froehlich said the homeowner had earlier joined with Williamson’s grandfather to start a grow-op, but their business relationship “soured.”

While the homeowner was away in Alberta, Williamson called multiple times and threatened his life, claiming he owed his grandfather money.

One the day of the assault, Williamson then ransacked the man’s empty house.

As the caretaker assessed the damage later that day, Williamson “came out of one of the bedrooms holding a large knife, and immediately threw a towel over (the victim’s) head,” Froehlich said, then threw the victim to the floor.

Williamson threatened the victim’s life, but eventually let him go. Police arrived soon after.

A month later, Williamson was arrested at a cash store in Rutland, where he’d attempted to pass cheques he’d stolen from the homeowner’s business in Osoyoos.

Williamson was arrested again in February 2016 for breaching his bail conditions by not reporting, and also in May 27 for driving while prohibited and obstructing justice by giving a false name to police.

Froehlich suggested a total prison sentence of 53 months, including 49 months for the initial incident at the Oliver home that he likened to a home invasion.

Defence counsel James Pennington disputed that characterization, noting the house was empty when his client entered it.

Pennington said Williamson, who was in the throes of drug addiction at the time, went to the home to carry out an act of “vigilante justice” to “recover what his grandfather lost.”

The lawyer then suggested a sentence of time served, plus two years’ probation.

Williamson, who appeared by videoconference from North Fraser Pretrial Centre, apologized to the court for the offences, noting his actions had caused him embarrassment and financial loss.

Judge Meg Shaw reserved her decision to a later date, which has yet to be determined.