Weekends in jail concludes lengthy Nanoose Bay wrong-way driver case

Millen was convicted of impaired driving causing bodily harm and dangerous driving causing bodily harm by a jury in December following a BC Supreme Court trial.

He was sentenced to a 90-day jail sentence to be served on weekends, a one-year driving ban and ordered to pay a $4,000 fine after a jointly submitted sentencing recommendation was accepted by BC Supreme Court Justice Brenda Brown on Thursday, May 21, in Nanaimo.

While Millen also accumulated a roadside prohibition for impaired driving following the crash, he has since turned his life around, according to a pre-sentence report.

He has maintained sobriety for well over six years through “sustained rehabilitation”, defence attorney Garen Arnet-Zargarian reported.

Millen, a Parksville-based aviation maintenance technician, apologized to the other driver, Ted Schofield, first responders, as well as the judicial system for “taking up large amounts of time” and resources.

“And finally, I would like to give my assurance that I will never be connected to anything like this in the future. This was the lowest point in my life. I cannot be back there again,” an emotional Millen said from the prisoner’s box.

Millen, a father of two, was supported in court by a work colleague and his father.

Crown prosecutor Nick Barber said based on the nature of the head-on crash at highway speeds, the collision could have turned out much worse.

“It’s really just luck that we don’t have a fatality on this file. I’m sure Mr. Millen appreciates that now,” Barber said, noting both vehicles were destroyed.

While Millen suffered knee and head injuries, his sentencing hearing outlined significant physical, emotional and financial hardships for Schofield, who was driving from Courtenay to Ladysmith at the time.

A powerful victim impact statement outlined how Schofield sustained severe knee, ankle and wrist injuries, resulting in him being bedridden and confined to a wheelchair for three months.

Persisting physical limitations have affected relationships with Schofield’s spouse and friends.

He also lost his part-time job as a direct result of Millen’s reckless conduct.

“What makes it even harder is knowing that these losses were preventable,” Schofield wrote to the court.

Justice Brenda Brown said clearly a jail sentence is required.

“There is no reason to be driving drunk,” she said candidly.

Millen’s jail sentence requires him to be held at the Nanaimo Correctional Centre between Friday and Sunday evenings.

He was represented by several different lawyers and made several applications opposed to Crown Counsel’s evidence, which resulted in lengthy procedural delays.

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by Ian Holmes

Weekends in jail concludes lengthy Nanoose Bay wrong-way driver case

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