Image Credit: CFJC Today

By Ashley Legassic

Intentionally-set fire

Kamloops man gets house arrest for setting home on fire

Jun 18, 2019 | 10:08 AM

KAMLOOPS — A Kamloops man has pleaded guilty to setting his house on fire while he, his mother and the family dog were inside.

His mother cannot be identified due to a court-ordered publication ban, and to protect her identity CFJC Today will not name the man.

On Monday (June 17), the 21-year-old man pleaded guilty to a charge of mischief over $5,000 in relation to the fire.

He was originally charged with arson and attempted murder, but those charges were stayed by Crown counsel.

In May 2017, just before 5:00 a.m., the man poured gasoline on the couch and floor and deliberately started a fire at the Aberdeen home. Both he and his mother fled the home with their dog and firefighters doused the flames when they arrived.

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Kamloops Fire Rescue alerted RCMP to the fire, believing it was suspicious, according to an agreed statement of facts read in court.

A gas can was found at the top of the stairs, and there was a strong smell of gasoline, along with a trail of it throughout the home.

The mother gave police a statement saying she had no idea what caused the fire, and she didn’t have any enemies who wanted to hurt her.

The man originally denied setting the fire in his statements to police, but a few weeks after the fire he was arrested and held in custody, until he was granted bail in the summer of 2017.

According to the agreed statement of facts, the man has abided by strict bail conditions since he was released.

Court heard the accused is a transgender male, and several factors in his life including improperly taking his hormones led to poor judgement and impulsive behaviour at the time of the offence. He struggled with his mental health before the offence, and has been seeking help since.

A psychiatric report filed in court states the man is a low risk to re-offend criminally, and has taken significant steps to address his mental health struggles.

Crown and defence entered a joint submission of an 18-month conditional sentence order — which would include periods of house arrest — followed by 12 months of probation.

B.C. Supreme Court Justice Len Marchand agreed with the submission, noting the man’s age and remorse as mitigating factors.

“This is the kind of case that could have led to significant injury or death,” Marchand said. “Life, I’m sure, has been harder for (him) than most others… The most important thing is to make sure (he) is on a good path here.”

As part of the man’s sentence and probation, he will be required to continue counselling and taking care of his mental health.