Looting-related charge dropped against man

A Williams Lake-area man no longer stands accused of getting his hands on $65,000 worth of heavy equipment allegedly stolen from evacuated properties when massive wildfires struck the area two summers ago.

A count of possessing stolen property over $5,000 against Shane Michael Brady, 40, of Big Lake, was stayed Monday in Williams Lake provincial court due to a lack of evidence. The matter had been set to go to trial on that day.

“The decision to stay the charges in this case was made shortly before the trial when the prosecutor concluded the charge approval standard could no longer be met,” said B.C. Prosecution Service communication counsel Daniel McLaughlin. “In these circumstances a stay of proceedings is the appropriate course of action.”

Brady, who has previous convictions for property-related offences, was arrested July 10, 2017 as a result of an investigation by the B.C. Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit with help from Burnaby RCMP, BC Conservation Services and North District RCMP’s federal and serious organized crime unit.

At the time, police said they acted on a tip that a prolific offender was active within the wildfire evacuation zone and found the equipment on a remote property in the Beaver Creek area northeast of Williams Lake.

According to Crown assessment guidelines, charges will only be continued if Crown counsel remains satisfied the evidence gathered supports a “strong, solid case” that provides a substantial likelihood of conviction. The test applies at all stages of the prosecution.

“In this case, the prosecutor concluded the test was no longer met and directed the stay of proceedings,” McLaughlin said.