Joshua Tyler Schaeffer pleaded guilty to ramming his truck into several businesses and cars at the Country Club Centre in January, 2020. (Alex Rawnsley/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Spencer Sterritt

PRISON TIME

Driver in Country Club rampage pleads guilty, facing 17 months in prison

Sep 28, 2020 | 4:26 PM

NANAIMO — The man behind the wheel of a car in two serious, dangerous driving incidents will spend roughly one-and-a-half years behind bars.

Joshua Tyler Schaeffer pleaded guilty and was sentenced at provincial court in Nanaimo on Monday, Sept. 28.

Court heard he drove dangerously and has no recollection of two separate incidents, including a high-profile rampage at the Country Club Centre in January, 2020.

Schaeffer dropped his brother Spencer Schaeffer at the Shoppers Drug Mart shortly before 7 p.m. on Jan. 6. An argument ensued before Schaeffer rammed his truck into the concrete pillars outside the store.

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He then drove into several cars in the parking lot and sped away to hit the Running Room store at the other end of the parking lot.

Schaeffer’s truck finally came to a rest after ramming the exterior wall of the CIBC at high speed.

No one besides Schaeffer was injured in the Country Club incident.

Schaeffer was on bail at the time for a June 2018 dangerous driving incident.

No one was injured when he drove erratically throughout a south Nanaimo neighbourhood, first hitting a car with people inside before driving off. He hit another car, a sign and took out a fence before getting stuck in a ditch.

At the time, Schaeffer told police his foot became stuck between the gas and brake pedals.

Witnesses told officers Schaeffer was driving between 80 and 90 kilometres per hour.

Schaeffer’s representative Kelly Bradshaw said her client doesn’t remember anything about his two rampages.

“He just can’t figure out what he was doing or why he was doing it. I know that’s not satisfying to the court or the community, but obviously he feels terrible about it,” she told the Honourable Justice Brian Harvey.

A mental health assessment was ordered as part of Schaeffer’s case, though it cleared him for trial.

At the time of the assessment, Schaeffer’s lawyer told reporters “(Schaeffer’s) got something mentally wrong with him. It’s quite clear…this young man had something wrong with him mentally, there’s no doubt in my mind.”

Schaeffer has an extensive criminal history, dating back to 2001 with several mischief, assault and vehicle-related charges.

Court heard this was due to Schaeffer falling in with the wrong crowd during his youth and becoming addicted to drugs after being hit by a car several years ago.

Schaffer apologized for his actions shortly before Justice Harvey sentenced him.

“I think about it every day (and) it tears me up the destruction I’ve caused. I want to get back to my regular life and I apologize to everyone for what I’ve done.”

Schaeffer was emotional during the sentencing, rocking back and forth and crying when Justice Harvey sentenced him to 30 months in prison for two counts of dangerous driving.

After credit for time served, Shaeffer will spent nearly 17 months in jail.

He’s prohibited from driving for three years after release and faces numerous probation conditions for two years, including not visiting Country Club Centre.

Schaeffer was also ordered by the court to pay more than $950 in damages to the owner of a car he hit during the Country Club rampage.

spencer@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @SpencerSterritt