Stanley Pottie outside court following his COVID ticket trial on May 6, 2022. Judge Justine Saunders found him guilty on Monday, June 20. (Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Ian Holmes

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NANAIMO — A provincial court judge didn’t buy Stanley Pottie’s version of events in dispute of a $2,300 fine during the height of COVID-19 restrictions.

Judge Justine Saunders ruled Pottie broke provincial COVID-19 health violations in response to numerous prior site visits and an estimation from a Nanaimo RCMP officer that 40 to 50 people were on his Clark Drive. West property on March 20, 2021.

During the first six months of 2021 gatherings of more than 10 people province-wide were banned under the then enacted Emergency Program Act.

“On the totality of the evidence the Crown has established beyond a reasonable doubt Mr. Pottie cannot be believed,” judge Saunders said at the conclusion of her Monday, June 20 ruling.

Judge Saunders pointed to a Facebook post encouraging people to Pottie’s property, home to several ife-sized animatronic dinosaurs.

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Pottie testified during a trial last month that he was unaware of the post, which advertised a food truck, popcorn stand and stated a $10 admission rate for adults and no charge for children.

Pottie stated his property is not a theme park and isn’t a for-profit enterprise.

His trial was told a bylaw enforcement officer and Nanaimo RCMP warned Pottie in the days leading up to the offence about COVID health restrictions.

The bylaw officer and two Nanaimo Mounties testified during the trial on behalf of the Crown, while the self-represented Pottie didn’t call any witnesses.

Pottie argued the case against him was misleading because some of the people on his property during the day in question were area dog walkers.

He told the judge he intended to pay the fine immediately.

“What a waste of time,” he said while walking out of the courtroom.

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ian@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @reporterholmes