Cory Edward Corbett vowed to judge Brian Harvey that he's finished with crime. (Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Ian Holmes

no jail

Man who rammed Lantzville homeowner with stolen ATV avoids jail

May 14, 2024 | 5:42 AM

NANAIMO — While significantly older and less mobile than the man busted rummaging on his property, an upper Lantzville resident took matters into his own hands.

A high-risk takedown ensued a year and a half ago at a Green Lake Cres. property where a man who requested to remain anonymous intercepted Cory Edward Corbett.

A provincial court sentencing hearing in Nanaimo on Monday, June 13 heard the 43-year-old man hit the 65-year-old victim with a stolen ATV in his front yard during a failed getaway.

Contrary to the urging of Crown counsel for a jail sentence, Corbett received a 12-month non-custodial sentence, followed by 18 months probation.

The Crown’s Neal Bennet outlined the facts of the case in which the homeowner heard a racket in front of his home on Nov. 28, 2022, shortly after 5 a.m.

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Bennet said the homeowner went outside and confronted Corbett who was attempting to steal valuable heavy gauge welding cables from the back of his flat-deck truck.

The two men exchanged words, then Corbett hopped on a stolen ATV and tried to take off.

Standing in the quad’s path was the homeowner who was subsequently hit, while he managed to cling onto the ATV which went into a ditch.

The victim’s legs were run over and he was sent crashing into his own fence.

Corbett, a homeless drug addict at the time, then bit him on the chest.

However, the resilient homeowner manged to get the upper hand.

He pinned Corbett down until police arrived a few minutes later to arrest the suspect.

The homeowner was taken to hospital with minor injuries.

Bennet said the theme of a pre-sentence report delving into Corbett’s circumstances painted a picture of an unstable man.

“Unstable in terms of housing, unstable in terms of drug addiction and recovery, and unstable in terms of ability to comply with conditions.”

Bennet said a jail term of at least six months would enable Corbett to be enrolled in the renowned Guthrie House program at Nanaimo Correctional Centre.

Corbett recently moved into a rental home in Port Alberni and self-reported he hasn’t touched crystal meth for several weeks.

“From 2015 when he first started using it and right up until self-reported recovery in March 2024, since which Mr. Corbett says he’s been sober,” Bennet said, who described Corbett’s battle against meth and his overall living situation as tenuous.

Bennet said he was also concerned about no documented attempts by Corbett to receive formal addiction treatment.

While currently unemployed, Court was told Corbett has a strong working background for many years, including serving as a manager at a vehicle mechanic shop in Nanaimo.

Defence attorney Michael Ritzker said his client did not want any physical confrontation with the victim but rather was just trying to escape.

“He wasn’t trying to hit the man with the vehicle, that’s an area of dispute,” Ritzker said.

Corbett addressed the court by speaking directly to the victim who was in the courtroom gallery.

“I’m really sorry, it’s my fault. I didn’t want to hurt you,” Corbett said.

Outside court, Corbett reiterated his remorse for the victim, while stating his outlook is much more positive since acquiring stable housing and being away from negative influences in Nanaimo.

Judge Brian Harvey sided with the defence’s view that Corbett’s trending in the right direction.

Conditions of his sentence include the first six months served with a curfew between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m.

“It is my view that rehabilitation is still a potential that is real and possible for this offender. I realize that these cases are often difficult and very close to determine which should be the appropriate sentence…”

While he accepted his apology minutes prior, the disappointed victim told NanaimoNewsNOW he felt the offender’s actions warranted jail time.

“I’ve been following all of the cases since this started, all the way along, and I wasn’t surprised at the sentence today. As all of the court cases that I’ve seen while I’ve been coming here have been looking the same way.”

The victim said he’s managed to move on with his life and is more cautious with his surroundings.

“Its cost me about six months worth of work, but I’m taking my security a little more seriously.”

Corbett, the father of a child in ministerial care, pleaded guilty to attempted theft and assault last October on the first day of his trial.

His prior criminal record includes convictions of assault and theft.

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Ian.holmes@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @reporterholmes