BC Prosecution Service Media Statements
October 18, 2017
No Charges Approved Following Arrest by Prince George RCMP Officer (PDF)
Victoria - The BC Prosecution Service announced that no charges have been approved against a member of the Prince George RCMP involved in an arrest of an individual on July 11, 2015. In the course of the arrest, the suspect suffered a fracture of his left leg. The incident was investigated by the Independent Investigations Office, which subsequently submitted a Report to Crown Counsel for review by the BCPS.
September 14, 2017
No Crown Appeal of Schoenborn High-Risk Accused Ruling (PDF)
The BC Prosecution Service announced that it will not file an appeal from the decision of the BC Supreme Court dismissing the Crown’s application to have Allan Dwayne Schoenborn designated a high-risk accused pursuant to the Criminal Code section 672.64.
August 30, 2017
Special Prosecutor Approves Charge (PDF)
Victoria - The BC Prosecution Service (BCPS) announced that Special Prosecutor Brock Martland has approved one charge of sexual interference of a person under the age of 16 years against Roger William, elected Chief of the Xeni Gwet’in First Nation. The offence is alleged to have occurred on or about May 12, 2017, in Williams Lake.
August 1, 2017
Motor Vehicle Act Charge approved after IIO Investigation (PDF)
Victoria - The BC Prosecution Service announced that a charge of driving without due care and attention has been approved against a member of the RCMP in connection with an incident that occurred on Highway 6 near Vernon on the morning of August 6, 2016. The incident involved a collision between an RCMP truck driven by an on-duty member of the Lumby detachment of the RCMP, Cst. Megan Valenta, and a motorcycle.
July 14, 2017
BC Prosecution Service releases Clear Statement following IIO investigation into motor vehicle fatality (PDF)
Victoria - The BC Prosecution Service previously announced that no charges have been approved against a Westshore RCMP officer who attempted to stop a motor vehicle for a Motor Vehicle Act infraction in the early morning hours of April 5, 2016 in Langford BC. In order to maintain confidence in the integrity of the criminal justice system, a Clear Statement is released to explain the reasons for not approving charges in cases where the IIO has investigated the conduct of a police officer.
July 11, 2017
No Charges Approved following IIO Investigation into Motor Vehicle Fatality (PDF)
Victoria - The BC Prosecution Service announced that no charges have been approved against a Westshore RCMP officer who attempted to stop a motor vehicle for a Motor Vehicle Act infraction in the early morning hours of April 5, 2016 in Langford BC. Within seconds of the officer’s attempt to stop the pickup truck driven by Kenneth Jacob Fenton, the pickup truck collided with a marked RCMP police vehicle driven by Cst. Sarah Beckett at the intersection of Peatt Road and Goldstream Avenue in Langford, BC. Cst. Beckett died of injuries sustained in the collision.
July 7, 2017
Charges Approved Against Nanaimo RCMP (PDF)
Victoria - The BC Prosecution Service (BCPS) announced that a charge has been approved against RCMP Cst. David Buchanan arising out of a motor vehicle incident in Duncan on February 20, 2016. The case was investigated by the Independent Investigation Office (IIO), which subsequently submitted a Report to Crown Counsel.
June 27, 2017
Special Prosecutor Approves Two Charges of Uttering Threats to Okanagan MLAs (PDF)
Victoria - The BC Prosecution Service announced that Special Prosecutor Kris Pechet has approved charges of uttering threats to cause death or bodily harm against Pavla Janeckova of Kelowna. The threatened persons are Premier Christy Clark and Speaker of the Legislative Assembly Steve Thomson.
June 21, 2017
New Special Prosecutor Appointed in case Against Former Deputy Sheriff (PDF)
Victoria – On September 13, 2016, the BC Prosecution Service announced that Special Prosecutor Michael Tammen, QC had approved four charges against former Kamloops Deputy Sheriff Kevin Johnston. The charges include three counts of communicating with a person believed to be underage for the purpose of facilitating a sexual offence. An additional charge of invitation to sexual touching was recently stayed by the Special Prosecutor. On June 14, 2017 the Prosecution Service was advised that Mr. Tammen had been appointed to the Supreme Court of British Columbia effective immediately. As a consequence of this appointment the Prosecution Service has appointed a new Special Prosecutor to replace Mr. Tammen – Mr. Brock Martland.
June 16, 2017
Crown Files Appeal of Sentences in Animal Abuse Case (PDF)
Victoria - The BC Prosecution Service announced that it has filed an appeal with the British Columbia Supreme Court asking that the court increase the sentences assessed in R. v. Keefer, Vandyk and Visser 2017 BCPC 142. The appeal has been filed under Supreme Court number 63894-4. The case involved charges under the British Columbia Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act (PCAA) and the Wildlife Act (WA) against employees and the directors of a dairy operation owned by Chilliwack Cattle Sales Ltd.
May 24, 2017
Additional Charges for Former Vancouver Police Constable (PDF)
Victoria - The BC Prosecution Service, Ministry of Justice announced today that additional criminal charges have been approved against former Vancouver Police Detective Constable James Albert Stanley Fisher.
April 10, 2017
No Charges Approved following arrest by Smithers RCMP Officers (PDF)
Victoria – The Criminal Justice Branch, Ministry of Justice, announced that no charges have been approved against two members of the Smithers RCMP involved in an arrest of an individual on August 14, 2015.
April 10, 2017
Appointment of Special Prosecutor (PDF)
Victoria - The Criminal Justice Branch, Ministry of Justice, announced that on April 5, 2016, the Assistant Deputy Attorney General Peter Juk QC appointed a Special Prosecutor in relation to allegations of sexual offences which allegedly occurred between March 24, 2017 and April 3, 2017 in Surrey.
March 31, 2017
Appointment of Special Prosecutor (PDF)
Victoria - The Criminal Justice Branch, Ministry of Justice, announced that on December 16, 2016, the Assistant Deputy Attorney General Peter Juk QC appointed a Special Prosecutor in relation to matters involving the Nanaimo City Council.
March 30, 2017
Appointment of Special Prosecutor (PDF)
Victoria - The Criminal Justice Branch (CJB), Ministry of Justice, announced that David Butcher QC has been appointed as a Special Prosecutor to provide legal advice to the RCMP in relation to an investigation being conducted into indirect political contributions and other potential contraventions of the BC Election Act.
March 20, 2017
Motor Vehicle Act Charge Approved Following IIO Investigation (PDF)
Victoria - The Criminal Justice Branch, Ministry of Justice, announced that a charge of driving without due care and attention has been approved against a member of the RCMP in connection with an incident which occurred in Coquitlam on March 21, 2016. The incident involved a collision between a vehicle operated by an off-duty member of the Professional Standards Unit of the RCMP, Sgt. Christopher Lee, and an adult female pedestrian.
February 15, 2017
Special Prosecutor Files Appeal of Acquittal in Bountiful-Related Case (PDF)
Victoria – The Criminal Justice Branch, Ministry of Justice announced that Special Prosecutor Peter Wilson, QC has filed an appeal with the Court of Appeal for British Columbia, asking that the Court set aside the acquittal of James Marion Oler on charges under section 273.3 of the Criminal Code alleging the unlawful removal of a child from Canada.
February 9, 2017
No Charges Approved in Vancouver Police Shooting (PDF)
Victoria - The Criminal Justice Branch, Ministry of Justice, announced that no charges have been approved against two members of the Vancouver Police Department involved in a shooting incident that occurred on November 22, 2014.
January 30, 2017
No Charges Approved for Mental Health Apprehension by Nanaimo RCMP Officers (PDF)
Victoria - The Criminal Justice Branch, Ministry of Justice, announced that no charges have been approved against two members of the Nanaimo RCMP involved in an apprehension under the Mental Health Act on November 3, 2015.
