Steven Michael Bacon faces a first degree murder charge in the death of Nanaimo teenager Makayla Chang in 2017. (Nanaimo RCMP)

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

MAKAYLA CHANG

Steven Michael Bacon set to plead guilty in death of Nanaimo teenager

Jul 25, 2022 | 2:44 PM

NANAIMO — The lawyer for Steven Michael Bacon says his client intends to change his stance on a first-degree murder charge.

During an appearance in B.C. Supreme Court in Nanaimo on Monday, July 25, Gil Labine said his client will change a current not guilty plea, to guilty, at his next appearance on Aug. 15. Bacon is accused of killing Nanaimo teenager Makayla Chang in early 2017.

Bacon appeared via video link Monday, but did not speak and sat largely still listening to proceedings.

The change from Bacon will avoid a scheduled November trial. Pending the plea, sentencing will take place likely in early December.

A charge of first-degree murder carries an automatic life sentence with the possibility of parole after 25 years.

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Labine further advanced Bacon’s pending guilty plea by indicating he will ask for a pre-sentence report on Aug. 15, in order to provide background and information for sentencing on Bacon.

The move follows a preliminary inquiry in early November 2020 where court had set aside five days to determine whether there was enough evidence to proceed to trial in the death of the 16-year-old.

The inquiry lasted just a matter of hours.

Several procedural appearances in the months followed before a trial date for Bacon was established.

Local investigators never listed Bacon as a suspect, but considered him a person of interest in Chang’s disappearance and subsequent death.

He was formally charged with the murder of Chang in September 2020.

Bacon was initially captured and held in custody after being arrested for an unrelated charge in Fredericton, NB. He was held in custody in Thunder Bay, ON until his transfer to British Columbia in October 2021.

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