Man who led police on chase sentenced

Virgil Ron Paul, 40, pleaded guilty to a number of charges

A man who attempted to ram police vehicles before leading RCMP on a foot chase through a Penticton neighbourhood was sentenced in a Penticton courtroom on Friday.

Virgil Ron Paul, 40, was sentenced to the 219 actual days he has spent in custody since his arrest in May after leading Penticton RCMP on a foot chase through numerous back yards in the Huth Avenue and Nesbitt Crescent areas.

Penticton’s Targeted Enforcement Unit spotted Paul on May 3, 2017, knowing he was a prohibited driver, and blocked him in with their vehicles outside a store on Fairview Road. Using his vehicle, Paul then attempted to ram his way out, but then fled on foot.

Paul pleaded guilty in provincial court on Friday to multiple charges, including flight from a police officer, dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, assault, uttering threats and multiple driving prohibitions.

Among the guilty pleas from Paul were an unrelated domestic assault in February 2017 and evading police in a vehicle in September 2016.

Crown counsel Ann Lerchs sought 360 days of incarceration for Paul, 31 days more than Paul had already served when including enhanced pre-trial custody credit.

She also noted Paul’s continuing and repeated record of driving offences. Paul has somewhere in the area of $40,000 in fines to ICBC, which his defence lawyer, Michael Patterson, said his client has little hope of paying off “unless he wins the lottery.”

Judge Michelle Daneliuk considered Paul’s “extremely traumatic” history and the “extreme disadvantages” outlined in a presentence report. Daneliuk noted, in particular, the section of the report which involves Paul’s history with police and his tendency to flee.

“What you disclosed to the author of that report was a persistent and pervasive experience of racism you have suffered throughout your life as a result of the various experiences you have been involved in and your conflict with the law is understandable in the context of your upbringing and the trauma you must have experienced,” Daneliuk said while handing down her sentence.

She also highlighted multiple letters of support written for Paul, including one from Penticton Indian Band Chief Chad Eneas. Paul told the judge they were best friends many years ago.

Paul was given a one-year driving prohibition, as well as a year of probation on top of his sentence.