A Nanaimo father became so consumed with the idea of destroying his ex-wife he told undercover police officers his entire plan. (File photo/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Spencer Sterritt

Revenge

Sordid tale of revenge ends with husband forced off of Vancouver Island

Aug 12, 2019 | 10:23 AM

NANAIMO — A desperate attempt to discredit his ex-wife and regain custody of his three children has led to a Nanaimo father being forced to leave Vancouver Island behind.

The father, who can’t be named under a publication ban to protect his ex-wife and children, was sentenced to 30 months in jail at provincial court in Nanaimo on Monday, Aug. 12. Having been in custody and denied bail twice since being arrested in early December, 2017, the man was released on Monday with credit for time served.

He will now return to Alberta, where he’s originally from. The Honourable Judge Ronald Webb gave him until 4 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 15 to collect his items and return under his probation conditions.

“What gives me the most pause is that now these children, who felt reasonably safe while you’re in custody, might not feel that way. With each passing day, week and month there is no involvement, their life will be better. At the end of the day, it’s an opportunity for you to leave them alone and recognize that you’re doing the best possible thing for them,” Judge Webb told the man directly.

His ouster from Nanaimo and Vancouver Island caps a court case which was repeatedly referred to as “unusual.”

Shorthanded

Clippers fall short hosting Bulldogs

3h ago

off the schedule

BC Ferries preemptively cancels early Saturday sailings

10h ago

firm handshake

B.C. NDP government, Greens reach 'shared priorities' agreement

13h ago

In the agreed statement of facts, Crown counsellor James Kulla described to Judge Webb how a marriage fell apart and became so dysfunctional the man tried to frame his ex-wife on drug charges and hopefully even cause her to overdose.

It first came to police attention after two women came forward in November 2017, saying a cab driver who’d driven them several times was constantly talking about framing his ex-wife with drugs.

The plan, which he freely told the women and later two undercover officers, was to hopefully plant fentanyl in his ex-wife’s home and have it be discovered, or she accidentally consume drugs and fail a test.

If she happened to overdose during the scheme, the man said it wouldn’t be the worst thing to happen.

The man had already paid several others upwards of $5,000 to plant drugs and otherwise discredit his ex-wife, but everyone had ripped him off and vanished with the cash.

After repeated mentions of the plans to the women, and even following one of them to their house and trying to enlist them in the plan, they turned to police.

The first undercover police scenario took place on Nov. 27, 2017, shortly after the women brought their concerns to police.

Two undercover officers posed as an escort and her pimp who needed a ride to a hotel. One officer remained inside the cab to talk with the man while the other officer went into the hotel for a period of time.

“Very early on, an unprompted (suspect) began to talk about his family,” Crown counsel Kulla told Judge Webb. “(He) talked about his issues with his one adopted daughter when they moved to the island…talked about his family problems and how he hasn’t seen his kids for over two years because his wife left him.”

The man admitted to blowing through a substantial amount of cash by trying to get his kids back through the courts. His previous interactions with getting ripped off by criminals was also brought up with little prodding from the undercover officer.

A second victim was also discussed, a former friend and teacher who the man wanted discredited by placing child pornography in the victims truck.

“(He) said he doesn’t want anyone killed, he just wants them taught a really good lesson,” was a common refrain from Kulla while telling the story.

In the first interaction with undercover officers, the man asked officers how much it would cost to frame a person and how it would happen.

A second similar operation happened the very next day. The same undercover officer who’d remained in the car hired the man again with a different undercover officer. Once again they struck up a conversation while running errands.

During their second meeting, officers pressed for specifics and clarifications about what exactly the man wanted. The suspect freely told them everything as he painted a picture specifically of how he wanted his ex-wife to suffer.

Several days later on Dec. 1, the man paid $700 to undercover officers for the job of planting drugs with his ex-wife and child pornography with a former friend.

He was arrested on Dec. 6 and remained in custody until Monday. The man was charged with counselling to commit obstruction of justice, assault causing bodily harm and commit public mischief.

Kulla said it’s unusual to see counselling to commit charges in the courts, especially three on one file.

While the man was in custody, a decision was made in family court about the matter between himself and his ex-wife.

Judge Webb regarded the findings of Judge Douglas Cowling and read a very specific statement out to the court.

“The description (the man) provided to the Ministry of (his ex-wife) being self-absorbed, controlling, blame-diverting, losing touch with reality, paranoid, easily agitated, in denial and emotionally unstable…bears no resemblance to (the ex-wife). The person who best fits that description is (the man).”

A victim impact statement from the ex-wife was submitted but not read aloud to the court.

spencer@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @spencer_sterrit