2 escorts found guilty in Kelowna weapons trial

A man and a woman who were hired as escorts in July 2016 in Kelowna have been found guilty of numerous weapons charges while the man remains on the run from police.

Cal Little and Heather Nystrom were charged with robbery using a prohibited firearm, three counts of possession of a firearm without a licence, occupying a vehicle knowing a firearm was present, possession of a loaded prohibited shotgun and possession of a prohibited shotgun with readily accessible ammunition.

On July 13, 2016, a Kelowna man called a number on an online escort site to arrange for a couple to come to his condo to perform a live sex show for him, a Kelowna court heard Wednesday. The man’s identity is protected by a publication ban. He was told the fee was $400 for an hour. The complainant met the couple, identified as Little and Nystrom, in the parking lot of his condo building shortly before midnight that day.

The three of them went upstairs to the condo and were captured on surveillance videos in the hallways.

The couple asked the complainant what he was comfortable with, and the complainant testified Little was putting him off because he believed Little was on drugs.

“Due to Mr. Little’s behaviour, (the complainant) asked the couple if they were OK with a half-hour show and offered $300,” said Judge Jane Cartwright. “He said they indicated they were fine with that.”

After agreeing on the price, Nystrom went into the bathroom and Little went into the bedroom.

“(The complainant) testified that Mr. Little came out of the bedroom holding a sawed-off shotgun and a knife,” said Cartwright. “He testified that Mr. Little pointed the gun at him and said ‘this is a robbery.’”

Nystrom then came out of the bathroom and took the complainant’s cellphone.

She then struggled to close the living room curtains, said Cartwright.

The complainant offered to give them another $100 and said that was all he had.

Mr. Little said “there’s always more,” pulled the sheath off the knife and pointed at the complainant’s keys on the table.

The complainant ran from the condo down the hallway, yelling for help. Little and Nystrom ran out 20 seconds later. The couple had been in his condo for just under six minutes.

The complainant’s $400 and his cellphone had been taken. Little and Nystrom were arrested on July 15, 2016. They were found in possession of a loaded sawed-off shotgun, an unloaded sawed-off shotgun, around a dozen unused shotgun shells, the complainant’s cellphone and a number of knives.

Nystrom admitted to police she and Little had two shotguns with them, along with shotgun shells, and that she knew Little brought one of the shotguns into the condo with them.

Both were released on bail, but Nystrom was subsequently arrested and detained after breaching terms of her release. A warrant was issued for Little’s arrest on Dec. 18. He remains at large. Cartwright found both Little and Nystrom guilty of all seven counts.

Nystrom’s lawyer requested a pre-sentence report, which will be confirmed in court Feb. 26.

A sentencing date is expected to be scheduled for March.

Little represented himself in the trial.