A woman escaped a jail sentence for attempting to light a Port Alberni apartment building on fire. (Google Earth)

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

arson case

Port Alberni woman spared jail for trying to burn down apartment building home to alleged drug trafficker

Sep 2, 2021 | 4:42 PM

PORT ALBERNI — A woman devastated after three friends died from fentanyl overdoses went to extreme lengths for her version of retribution.

Drunk and consumed with anger, court was told the 42-year-old woman, whose name is protected by a publication ban, went to a 4^th Ave. apartment in Port Alberni on Oct. 19, 2018 to ignite the building.

Court heard how the Indigenous woman entered the building known as “The Ghetto” and knocked on doors, warning she would try to burn the building down.

The offender was told the alleged drug dealer was not home at the time.

A number of tenants left as a result of her warnings, but it’s not clear if everybody got out.

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While spraying lighter fluid on the structure, she lit herself on fire, which appeared to be accidental.

She was not injured and the building was not damaged.

“Just because the attempt did not give the desired consequence, it is still a very dangerous act,” the Crown’s Christina Proteau said during recent sentencing arguments.

She requested a year-long jail sentence.

Judge Alexander Wolf told the woman he understood her frustration, and referred to fentanyl dealers as “merchants of death”, but said he could not condone her vigilantism.

Court was told the remorseful offender apologized to everybody living in the building for her actions.

Reports ordered by the court showed the woman suffered from physical and sexual abuse as a youth and was the victim of past violent relationships.

Judge Wolf stated while a jail sentence was appropriate, going behind bars would take her away from her counsellors, supportive housing and cultural supports.

The judge recommended the 18 month community sentence order include treatment for alcoholism.

— with files from David Wiwchar, 93.3 FM The Peak

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