Jesse Island is nine acres in size and privately owned with a primary residence and guest house. Court was told its owner is believed to be a Canadian non-resident who visits occasionally. (Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Ian Holmes

bizarre assault

‘I’m really sorry:’ non-custodial sentence for man who dropped log on Nanaimo kayakers

May 2, 2024 | 5:29 AM

NANAIMO — A highly intoxicated man with mental health issues received a suspended sentence and two years probation for a bizarre high-profile assault nearly two years ago.

The perplexing actions of Tristan Jed Maunder, 39, were revealed at a Wednesday, May 1 sentencing hearing in Nanaimo after he pleaded guilty to an assault with a weapon charge.

It was August 6, 2022 when Maunder, the son of the private island’s caretaker, took exception to a man and woman in separate boats kayaking on the shoreline of Jesse Island, off Nanaimo’s Stephenson Point neighbourhood.

An argument between the parties took place, with the male victim stating they had a right to be on the shoreline and that they had no intention of trespassing on the nine acre island.

According to the province, the public retains access to foreshore/shoreline areas even in cases where adjacent land is privately owned.

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The contentious interaction was captured on video by the male victim, who requested anonymity from NanaimoNewsNOW.

“Timber!,” Maunder yelled as he deliberately dropped an upright 15 foot long by eight inch thick log on the kayakers.

The log crashed 20 feet below into a vacant seat of the woman’s kayak, hitting her in the back in the process.

“The impact was so great that she actually went into the ocean with her belongings and cell phone,’ the Crown’s Leanne Mascolo said in provincial court as she read out an agreed statement of facts.

The female victim was taken to hospital and later diagnosed with a bruised kidney, while the male victim was left with bruised legs and anxiety issues.

This is the log Maunder dropped onto a pair of kayakers at Jesse Island on Aug. 6, 2022. (Nanaimo RCMP)

Both made statements to police, as did a pair of witnesses on shore at Stephenson Point who happened to witness the disagreement and dangerous log toss.

Maunder, extremely intoxicated at the time, was arrested later the same day.

Pre sentence and psychiatric reports were ordered, showing Maunder has a documented social anxiety disorder and alcohol dependence.

“I think, quite frankly, those two diagnoses are at the forefront of this incident,” Mascolo said. “He was under the influence of a significant amount of alcohol and also a confrontation with people in the community he was ill-prepared to deal with in a better manner.”

She called the attack “really serious” and easily could have been fatal.

A psychiatrist scored Maunder with a moderate risk of future violence, noting his most relevant risk factors were his substance abuse, severe social anxiety and coping abilities.

The forensic evaluation stated Maunder’s actions were largely motivated by his desire to punish the victims for perceived violations and to enhance his self-esteem.

Maunder had what was described in court as “a miserable existence” for many years where he first had substantial engagement with mental health supports starting in 2005 in Port Alberni.

He’s estranged from his father and brother, while he’s close with his mother, Maunder’s lawyer told court.

Maunder, who’s on disability, moved to Jesse Island in 2021 and continues living at a guest house, his lawyer Martin Screech said.

“It’s now purely something his mother does, he’s no longer taking part in that,” Screech told court regarding the caretaker role.

Screech said his client has consistently taken responsibility and showed deep remorse for his actions.

Maunder has attended regular meetings with his bail supervisor since his arrest and is receptive to programming to address his alcohol and mental health issues, Screech noted.

The male victim, a longtime Nanaimo resident, was at the sentencing hearing and made a powerful statement to the court.

He’s regularly on Nanaimo’s waterfront as part of his job, as well as for leisure with friends and family.

He said Maunder’s mother yelled and screamed profanities on several occasions previously to him and other’s he’s been with.

“On this particular evening before I even had any interaction with Mr. Maunder I heard him yelling on the other side of the Island and several little girls screaming and crying. I can only assume that they were on a boat and just motoring along the shoreline.”

He reported being traumatized by what happened, including anxiety and difficulty falling to sleep.

“He had several opportunities to walk away, in fact he did and then made the choice to come back and do something that could potentially have ended my life and left my son without a father.”

The victim said he’s fearful of a future interaction with Maunder and avoids venturing between Jesse Island and Stephenson Point.

Maunder’s mother reported frustration with people trespassing on the island, taking videos and removing items.

Tristan Maunder had no prior criminal record. (Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)

The offender rose and made a brief statement to the court: “I’m really sorry, I made a terrible mistake and there’s nothing I can say to change it.”

Maunder added he learned he has a problem with alcohol, he shouldn’t confront people and his actions changed the way he views the world.

Provincial court judge Karen Whonnock acknowledged Maunder’s guilty plea, willingness to get help and strong compliance in attending scheduled meetings with his bail supervisor.

A suspended sentence ensures Maunder will have a criminal record.

His probationary conditions include no contact orders with the victims, no consumption of alcohol and illicit substances, a weapons ban, counselling provisions and submitting a DNA sample.

After accepting a joint sentence recommendation, judge Whonnock urged Maunder to take alcohol and anger management counselling “very seriously.”

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Ian.holmes@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @reporterholmes