Nanaimo’s most prolific offender sentenced for feces-smearing tirade

As of the afternoon of Wednesday, Oct 14, Tye’s lawyer told NanaimoNewsNOW that post-release housing arrangement efforts for Tye had not been successful.

Ani Rathore, Javawocky Coffee House owner, had hot coffee thrown in his face after demanding Tye to leave his business. (Image Credit: Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)

Neal Bennet, Crown prosecutor, told the provincial court sentencing hearing that Tye has amassed an alarming criminal record since 2005, with the majority of crimes taking place in Nanaimo.

“Over that 26-page record, there are a total of 174 criminal convictions, they include a significant history of committing violence. By the Crown’s count there are 81 total convictions for offences involving violence.”

Tye, who identifies as female, pleaded guilty to assault with a weapon, mischief, and committing an indecent act in public prior to being sentenced when a jointly crafted sentencing recommendation was endorsed by a judge.

The offender’s past crimes include throwing a brick at a pregnant woman in Nanaimo in 2022, numerous assaults of correctional officers, and several confrontations at downtown businesses leading to violent outbursts.

Aftermath of Tye defecating and then smearing feces on the front door of Javawocky Coffee House. (Image Credit: Submitted photo)

Tye’s diagnosed mental health ailments include ADHD, borderline personality disorder, autism, and stimulant use disorder.

Despite the offender’s multitude of psychiatric disorders, Tye has shown considerable offending insight and prior conduct which was discerned to not be purely random in nature, according to a 2022 forensic evaluation.

While referencing the report, the Crown’s Bennet told court Tye attributed her actions to her own worldview.

“She feels justified in assaulting people when she herself feels victimized,” Bennet told court.

Tye’s record includes 27 convictions for breaching court-ordered conditions.

The offender has been shifted numerous times between different jails for various conflicts, most notably assaulting jail guards.

Aiden Tye in a prior police-released file photo (Image Credit: Nanaimo RCMP)

While describing Tye’s conduct as “completely unacceptable”, Bennet appeared surprised to hear Tye has had good behaviour at Nanaimo Correctional Centre (NCC) since being arrested for the Javawocky House incident.

Bennet called Tye’s recent in-custody conduct “remarkable” given the offender’s track record, noting Tye’s recent stability has included an institutional cleaning job at NCC.

“It does offer a glimmer of hope that she has the ability to control her behaviour,” Bennet said.

Longtime defence attorney, James Wright, expanded on how Tye has fallen through the cracks since his client has been deemed criminally responsible, who appreciates the nature of past offences.

“I don’t know if we’ve completely turned the corner on this, the bottom line is (s)he’s broken, (s)he can’t be fixed, (s)he needs to be managed,” Wright told the hearing.

Wright said BC Housing needs to be held accountable for not stepping up to help advocate for Tye.

Samaritan Place in Nanaimo’s Nicol St. turned Tye down for housing, Wright noted.

In January of last year, veteran provincial court judge Brian Harvey called out “those in public office” for not doing more to properly manage Tye as opposed to continually relying on jail, only to have Tye be released and commit more crimes.

Wright said Tye has read nearly 20 novels while in jail at NCC over the last several months, but had been in segregation due to self-harm.

James Wright has consistently stated his frustration at the inability to secure community-based housing for Tye to properly care for his challenged client. (Image Credit: Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)

Tye rose from the prisoner’s box to issue a brief statement.

“I just want to say that I’m really looking forward to eventually getting surgery and I know that’s going to be a big piece that’s missing in my life. Once I can get surgery, my life’s going to improve a whole lot, that’s all I wanted to say,” Tye said.

Judge Christina Proteau told the hearing that Tye’s conduct represented serious offences.

“This would have caused a huge inconvenience, cost, stress and trauma to the small business given the mischief that occurred and given the damage that was done,” judge Proteau said.

Tye’s sentence includes a red-zone order to stay away from downtown Nanaimo bordered by Bastion and Front streets, Esplanade and Terminal Ave.

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by Ian Holmes

Nanaimo’s most prolific offender sentenced for feces-smearing tirade

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