Prolific offender Chris Mitchell, 30, was sentenced to 18-months jail for several crimes in Chemainus and Nanaimo in June, 2017. He'll serve a further 82 days behind bars due to credit for time already served in custody. (Facebook)

By Ian Holmes

Chronic offender

Offender with long rap sheet jailed for several mid island crimes

Sep 25, 2019 | 9:19 AM

NANAIMO — A prolific offender with more than 50 convictions to his name vowed he’s appeared in court for the last time.

Christopher James Mitchell, 30, pleaded guilty to four offences for a single-day crime spree which began by stealing a van from a Chemainus home and ended with Mitchell being taken down by a police dog in Colliery Dam Park.

Mitchell received an 18-month jail sentence after an agreed statement of facts were revealed in provincial court in Nanaimo this week. The Courtenay man will serve a further 82-day intermittent sentence due to credit for time already served in custody.

Crown prosecutor Catherine Hagen said the offences happened on June 18, 2017 when Mitchell stole a 12-seat Nissan passenger van valued at $55,000 from a Chemainus home.

The homeowner responded to the noise of his van revved up, and immediately got in his Dodge caravan and tracked down his stolen vehicle nearby.

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The persistent victim blocked in the stolen van occupied by two offenders.

Michell and co-accused James Gibbons then got out of the van and ran, only to be perused by the homeowner who manged to tackle Gibbons.

Mitchell got into another stolen truck and accelerated toward the victim, yelling he would kill him and gave a throat slitting gesture during approach, Hagen said.

The truck hit the victim’s Dodge caravan, who “feared for his life.”

Court was told the traumatized victim looked forward to spending Father’s day with his four young children.

The stolen truck belonging to a Chemainus crane company was found abandoned, while Mitchell and Gibbons fled.

Later in the day in Nanaimo’s Harewood neighbourhood RCMP spotted a second stolen truck, which was property of the same crane firm.

Gibbons used the truck to drive head-on into a responding police cruiser in the area of Howard Ave. and Foster St. With Mitchell in the passenger seat, Gibbons reversed and hit an RCMP utility truck, pushing it ten feet.

No officers were injured, court was told.

Gibbons and Mitchell then drove off at a high rate of speed, blowing through three stop signs. Police decided not to chase the suspects for public safety concerns.

Witnesses say the truck went up Seventh St. and stopped in a Cul-de-sac where Gibbons and Mitchell bailed from the stolen truck and ran.

Gibbons was arrested soon after.

Mitchell was located in a bush in Colliery Dam Park where police told him to stop moving or the police dog would be released.

Mitchell decided to run and Police Services Dog Boomer was deployed, making contact with Mitchell’s arm and leg.

Police were told on scene by Mitchell that he needed drug treatment.

Co-accused James Joseph Gibbons elected to plead guilty on Aug. 28, 2017 and was handed an 18-month jail sentence.

Mitchell had been in custody since Nov. 23, 2018. He committed other offences during his temporary release for the Nanaimo and Chemainus crimes, the Crown’s Catherine Hagen said.

His lawyer, Bobby Movassaghi, told court Mitchell had an unstable childhood bouncing around in foster homes after the age of ten.

Mitchell’s father was in jail during his younger years, according to Mavasagghi, who said his client’s criminal record began in his youth in 2004.

Mitchell addressed Judge Douglas Cowling from the prisoner’s box.

“In 2017 I wasn’t in a good place. I’m really sorry and I appreciate you giving me a chance to integrate back into the community…I won’t be back here again,” Mitchell said.

Mitchell has served one federal jail sentence, which encompasses all jail terms more than 2-years in length.

Judge Cowling said Mitchell would be a prime candidate for future federal sentences if he doesn’t correct his behaviour.

Mitchell is slated to serve the remainder of his 82-day sentence at the Nanaimo Correctional Centre on a week on, week off basis.

ian@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @reporterholmes