‘Priority offender’ stalls bail hearing

Trouble seems to be following Jason Van Raes.

Described previously by police as a “priority offender,” the 40-year-old had been set for a bail hearing Wednesday in provincial court in Penticton — what would have been his second in nine days — but instead had his legal matters stalled until Sept. 5 to await details of new charges.

Those new charges are break-andenter with intent to commit an indictable offence, possession of a dangerous weapon and possession of break-in tools.

Penticton RCMP spokesman Const. James Grandy said the charges arose when Van Raes was allegedly caught breaking into the IGA store in Okanagan Falls around 2 a.m. on July 23.

Van Raes appeared in court Wednesday via videoconference from the Okanagan Correctional Centre. He had a black eye and complained of his face being too swollen and sore to phone his lawyer, while alleging his injuries resulted from his most recent arrest Aug. 25.

“I was just getting a place to work, a place to live and really turning things around,” he told Judge Greg Koturbash, before asking to be released pending his next appearance Sept. 5.

“I promise I will not not be in attendance,” said Van Raes.

Koturbash instead ordered Van Raes be brought to court in person Sept. 5 for what will now be a bail hearing.

Van Raes was last granted bail Aug. 20 in relation to an alleged break-and-enter and attempted vehicle theft on Aug. 14 in Penticton.

However, he was re-arrested Aug. 25 in Penticton following a report of a man in the area of Fairview Road and Duncan Avenue attempting to hotwire a vehicle.

Van Raes is also accused of two counts of possession of stolen property under $5,000 on Aug. 10 in Oliver, and a single count of possession of stolen property under $5,000 on Aug. 3 in Penticton.

All told, he faces 11 charges on five files.