Latest news with #B.C.ProvincialCourt
Toronto Sun
23-05-2025
- Toronto Sun
Probation for ex-Mountie, convicted of obstruction after 'sexting' victim
Published May 23, 2025 • 1 minute read File photo of an RCMP cruiser. KELOWNA — A former Okanagan RCMP officer who exchanged explicit messages with a victim of domestic violence has been given a conditional discharge and 12 months of probation for attempting to obstruct justice. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account Former Kelowna Mountie Sean Eckland pleaded guilty in the case that began when he and another officer responded to a serious domestic assault in Lake Country, B.C., in 2018. The B.C. Provincial Court ruling says they found a woman seriously injured, and her boyfriend was charged with aggravated assault, sexual assault, uttering threats and forcible confinement. The ruling says Eckland and the victim, whose name is under a publication ban, began 'sexting' in the months after the assault, with Eckland regularly using his personal device as he was not provided a work phone. An agreed statement of facts says the woman's boyfriend became aware of the exchanges, resulting in a witness-tampering investigation, and Eckland eventually disclosed the inappropriate texts to a superior. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Judge Clarke Burnett sentenced Eckland on Tuesday, granting him a conditional discharge and placing him on probation for 12 months, finding he accepted responsibility for his actions and acknowledged what he did was wrong. Eckland has since resigned from the RCMP, and the ruling says he's unemployed after an otherwise 'exemplary policing career.' The ruling says Eckland suffers from post-traumatic stress and depression, and the case garnered intense media coverage that he won't be able to hide from. 'A simple Google search of his name will inevitably lead to a media story about the case. The granting of a discharge will not change this,' the judge wrote. 'His actions have resulted in him suffering consequences. They include being charged with a number of criminal offences, being the subject of much media attention, having his children ridiculed, and losing his career as a police officer.' Eckland's probation terms require him to keep good behaviour, have no contact with the victim, complete 120 hours of community service and report to a probation officer as directed. Toronto Maple Leafs Columnists World Toronto Maple Leafs Editorial Cartoons
Global News
23-05-2025
- Global News
Former Kelowna Mountie handed probation in ‘sexting' case
A former Okanagan RCMP officer who exchanged explicit messages with a victim of domestic violence has been given a conditional discharge and 12 months of probation for attempting to obstruct justice. Former Kelowna Mountie Sean Eckland pleaded guilty in the case that began when he and another officer responded to a serious domestic assault in Lake Country, B.C., in 2018. The B.C. Provincial Court ruling says they found a woman seriously injured, and her boyfriend was charged with aggravated assault, sexual assault, uttering threats and forcible confinement. The ruling says Eckland and the victim, whose name is under a publication ban, began 'sexting' in the months after the assault, with Eckland regularly using his personal device as he was not provided a work phone. An agreed statement of facts says the woman's boyfriend became aware of the exchanges, resulting in a witness-tampering investigation, and Eckland eventually disclosed the inappropriate texts to a superior. Story continues below advertisement 2:20 Sentencing wraps in assault case tied to alleged RCMP misconduct Judge Clarke Burnett sentenced Eckland on Tuesday, granting him a conditional discharge and placing him on probation for 12 months, finding he accepted responsibility for his actions and acknowledged what he did was wrong. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy Eckland has since resigned from the RCMP, and the ruling says he's unemployed after an otherwise 'exemplary policing career.' The ruling says Eckland suffers from post-traumatic stress and depression, and the case garnered intense media coverage that he won't be able to hide from. 'A simple Google search of his name will inevitably lead to a media story about the case. The granting of a discharge will not change this,' the judge wrote. 'His actions have resulted in him suffering consequences. They include being charged with a number of criminal offences, being the subject of much media attention, having his children ridiculed, and losing his career as a police officer.' Story continues below advertisement Eckland's probation terms require him to keep good behaviour, have no contact with the victim, complete 120 hours of community service and report to a probation officer as directed. This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 23, 2025.
Winnipeg Free Press
23-05-2025
- Winnipeg Free Press
Probation for ex-Mountie, convicted of obstruction after ‘sexting' violence victim
KELOWNA – A former Okanagan RCMP officer who exchanged explicit messages with a victim of domestic violence has been given a conditional discharge and 12 months of probation for attempting to obstruct justice. Former Kelowna Mountie Sean Eckland pleaded guilty in the case that began when he and another officer responded to a serious domestic assault in Lake Country, B.C., in 2018. The B.C. Provincial Court ruling says they found a woman seriously injured, and her boyfriend was charged with aggravated assault, sexual assault, uttering threats and forcible confinement. The ruling says Eckland and the victim, whose name is under a publication ban, began 'sexting' in the months after the assault, with Eckland regularly using his personal device as he was not provided a work phone. An agreed statement of facts says the woman's boyfriend became aware of the exchanges, resulting in a witness-tampering investigation, and Eckland eventually disclosed the inappropriate texts to a superior. Judge Clarke Burnett sentenced Eckland on Tuesday, granting him a conditional discharge and placing him on probation for 12 months, finding he accepted responsibility for his actions and acknowledged what he did was wrong. Eckland has since resigned from the RCMP, and the ruling says he's unemployed after an otherwise 'exemplary policing career.' The ruling says Eckland suffers from post-traumatic stress and depression, and the case garnered intense media coverage that he won't be able to hide from. 'A simple Google search of his name will inevitably lead to a media story about the case. The granting of a discharge will not change this,' the judge wrote. 'His actions have resulted in him suffering consequences. They include being charged with a number of criminal offences, being the subject of much media attention, having his children ridiculed, and losing his career as a police officer.' Eckland's probation terms require him to keep good behaviour, have no contact with the victim, complete 120 hours of community service and report to a probation officer as directed. This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 23, 2025.
Global News
02-05-2025
- Global News
No time behind bars for man who stabbed Alberta sisters in his Vancouver Airbnb unit
A man who brutally attacked two vacationing sisters from Alberta who had rented his Vancouver Airbnb has won't serve any additional time behind bars. On Thursday, Arvin Pasha was handed a 22-month conditional sentence to be served in the community, followed by three years of probation. Pasha pleaded guilty in September to assault with a weapon and assault causing bodily harm for the attack three years ago. 2:18 No jail time sought for Airbnb attacker at sentencing hearing Pasha had initially been charged with aggravated assault, but pleaded guilty to the lesser charges just days before his trial was scheduled to begin. Story continues below advertisement In handing down the sentence, B.C. Provincial Court Judge Harbans Dhillon noted Pasha had no prior criminal record, accepted responsibility with his guilty plea, had performed well on bail and had abstained from cannabis use. The court has previously heard that the 23- and 25-year-old victims were staying at Pasha's short-term rental on West 3rd Avenue in Kitsilano when the May 27, 2022, attack took place. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy According to an agreed statement of facts entered in court, Pasha was living in the two-bedroom apartment at the time and renting out one room on Airbnb; the sisters were unaware he would also be staying there. 1:31 Guilty plea in violent Vancouver Airbnb attack The court heard that Pasha was heard saying 'they're torturing my cat,' and 'they baited all the cats in the neighbourhood,' while pacing in the hallway outside the unit with a 30-cm knife early on the morning of the attack. Story continues below advertisement The court heard he then broke into the unit. One of the sisters was stabbed in the head, neck and arm, while the other was stabbed in her head, neck and hand. Victim impact statements from both sisters read during Pasha's sentencing hearing in February recounted the lasting impacts of the attacks, both physically and emotionally. Pasha's lawyer had sought a conditional discharge, which would have left him with no criminal record should he adhere to conditions, arguing his client suffered a mental breakdown on the day of the attack brought on by heavy cannabis use and has an 'unspecified psychotic disorder.' The Crown argued a discharge is contrary to the public interest, given the extreme violence of the offence, but did not seek additional jail time either, acknowledging Pasha's mental illness left him with a 'lessened moral culpability.' 1:46 Airbnb host released on bail after alleged knife attack Dhillon agreed with the Crown. Story continues below advertisement 'A discharge would fail to adequately communicate to members of the public who are users of recreational psychoactive substances that there are liable to be adverse criminal justice consequences if their involuntary ingestion of excessive psychoactive substances causes or contributes to serious harm,' she said. Under the terms of Pasha's conditional sentence, he must live with his mother in Richmond and abide by an overnight curfew for the first 12 months. He's also banned from using alcohol or drugs or possessing weapons, and cannot make contact with the victims.
