Prolific offender Perry Johnny has been sentenced to five years in a federal prison after being convicted of charges stemming from a crime spree in Williams Lake three years ago in which a police officer was almost run over.
The sentence was handed down in B.C. Supreme Court Friday, April 24 after Crown had previously asked that Johnny receive a seven year sentence, while defence argued for rehabilitation.
Judge Mark McEwan gave Johnny five years, but credited him with one year time served.
During a trial held last September and October in Williams Lake, the court heard how Perry and his co-accused Blake Johnny attempted to break-in at the Overlander liquor store and Huston Agencies overnight June 16, 2012.
They were charged with theft of property up to $5,000, theft of a truck from a residence on Broadway Avenue South, dangerous operation of a vehicle and failing to stop when pursued by police.
Additionally Perry Johnny was charged with assault and endangering the life of a police officer because when they were pursued by police to the dairy fields in the north end of the city, Perry drove toward an RCMP officer, almost hitting him.
Eventually the stolen truck was located at Alexis Creek, after Johnny veered around a spike belt placed on the road by the Alexis Creek RCMP. Blake was sleeping inside the truck and Perry had fled the scene.
During his ruling in November, McEwan said unchallenged DNA samples taken from beer cans in the truck positively identified the Johnnys, who had pleaded not guilty.
Before sentencing, McEwan ordered Gladue reports on both men, which outlined sentencing principles for Aboriginal offenders.
In his case, Blake was was convicted of break and enter and theft. and sentenced to time served. Perry was also given a lifetime ban on possessing weapons.