Man hopes victims can find ‘closure’ after crime spree

A Kelowna man has been sentenced to more than two years in prison for a string of break-ins and assault charges from fall 2016.

Leonard Arthur Morin, 29, was charged with five counts of assault with a weapon, one charge of possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose and mischief under $5,000, for offences committed Sept. 4, 2016 in West Kelowna.

He was charged with break and enter to commit an offence for an incident in Kelowna on Sept. 6, 2016.

He was also charged with breaking into a dwelling and break and enter to steal a firearm in West Kelowna on Nov. 8, 2016.

And finally, he was charged with break and enter to commit an offence, willfully obstructing a police officer, possession of property under $5,000 and possession of a controlled substance on Nov. 16 in Kelowna.

Morin has an extensive record dating back to 2003.

“The most aggravating factor is of course that lengthy record," said Crown prosecutor Mallory Treddenick in court Monday. “He’s no stranger to criminal activity, which is why I’m seeing the high sentences I am with respect to the break and enter as well as the assault.”

Treddenick proposed six to nine months in jail concurrent for two of the assault charges, 12 months for one break and enter charge and nine to 12 months on another break and enter charge and six to nine months for obstructing a police officer.

Morin has been in custody since his arrest in November 2016, and has served 379 days in jail.

Defence counsel proposed a sentence of time served with two years probation.

“He does readily admit that at the time he had relapsed after approximately a twoyear period of sobriety and steering clear from drugs,” he said of Morin. “He relapsed after a personal tragedy . . . and he was doing crystal meth and the crime was committed to support that habit.”

In court via video, Morin expressed remorse for his actions.

“I really hope the people I have negatively affected can have some closure for what I’ve done,” he said. “I think about what I’ve done all the time, and all I’ve been able to do in 12 and a half months is work hard at bettering myself. I am here now for negative reasons, but I want the victims of my crimes and the provincial law courts to know that I’ve learned valuable lessons about making right and wrong decisions.”

Judge Gregory Koturbash sentenced Morin to 840 days, or about two years and four months.

With credit for time served, Koturbash said Morin had 261 days left to serve.

All other charges were stayed.