Bear spray is becoming an all-too-common weapon for criminals, especially youth, in assault cases, according to a recent court hearing. (Dreamstime)

By Ian Holmes

youth justice

‘Many teenage boys are carrying it:’ Nanaimo boy sentenced for bear spray attack

Jul 18, 2023 | 5:55 AM

NANAIMO — A sentencing hearing shed light on a troubling trend of violence between groups of young people in the Harbour City.

A youth linked to several such cases was assessed a one year Intensive Support Supervision Program order following a Friday, July 14 sentencing hearing in provincial court in Nanaimo related to a pair of incidents.

The convictions feature numerous strict conditions, including an overnight curfew and counseling.

The 16-year-old teen who can’t be named under the Youth Justice Act pleaded guilty to assault causing bodily harm and breach of probation linked to incidents in Nanaimo on Dec. 29, 2022 and Jan. 16, 2023 respectively.

Crown prosecutor Kaitlyn Tourangeau said the teen, well known to the local RCMP and judicial system, was among a group of several young people traveling on a public bus late last year in Nanaimo.

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The victim was ordered to take off his jacket on the bus, resulting in an ensuing altercation when the parties got off.

A co-accused hit the victim in the back of his head with a baton.

The teen who was sentenced then unleashed bear spray on the wounded youth, who managed to escape.

A little over two weeks later the teen was caught with bear spray after police were called to a disturbance outside Nanaimo District Secondary School.

He was on probation at the time with a weapons ban.

Tourangeau said continuous conflicts among young people in Nanaimo presents an ongoing public safety concern.

“It’s fair to say that there is a significant problem with the use of weapons in the community, especially bear spray right now — many teenage boys are carrying it,” Tourangeau told the court.

Defence attorney James Arends said the offender’s father and step-mother didn’t know what to do with the disobedient boy, who was hanging out with a poor group of friends.

“And quite frankly was hanging around some adults that did nothing but enable lousy behaviour,” Arends said.

The offender was given bail after nearly a week in jail in February on the condition that he live with a family friend who stepped up to take him in.

Arends said the Good Samaritan, who provided housing outside of the Nanaimo area, “turned things around” for the youth, noting his behaviour dramatically improved since mid February.

Judge Tamara Hodge spoke glowingly of the man and his family who’ve been instrumental in the boy’s improved behaviour.

“I don’t know many people who would be willing to do that,” judge Hodge said.

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ian@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @reporterholmes