Habitual offender sentenced for several crimes, including Nanaimo bear spray attack

Crown counsel outlined the chaotic attack from an eyewitness point of view during the busy Saturday afternoon.

“He said the victim had been bear-sprayed and ran for safety inside the nearby Dollarama store. He said the group had chased the victim inside the store, he reported in addition to the bear spray several of the men who were involved were armed with knives.”

The marginalized victim believed the assailants were also armed with bats, according to a statement of facts read into the court record by the Crown.

Nobody was reported to be stabbed.

Police and emergency responders tended to the man who could not open his eyes as remnants from the bear spray was also reported on the store floor.

Williams was initially arrested but was released by a Port Alberni judge on April 4 to live with his grandmother at Pachena Bay, part of Huu-ay-aht First Nation.

Less than a week later Williams would be back in a jail cell.

With a judge’s order to remain within 20 kilometres of his grandmother’s place, Williams breached his release conditions by being in Port Alberni and disobeying his curfew.

He was spotted by paramedics intoxicated on April 10 at a Port Alberni restaurant and taken to nearby West Coast General Hospital.

Williams was treated by staff and cleared to leave, but he refused to go.

“A nurse approached and requested Mr. Williams be removed from the hospital as he had become verbally abusive with staff and apparently nearly punched another nurse,” the Crown reported.

Williams remained uncooperative with Port Alberni RCMP and was eventually arrested after refusing to stand up.

Attending the hearing in provincial court in Port Alberni virtually while in custody, Williams also pleaded guilty to assaulting an intimate partner and a mischief offence related to incidents last July in north Nanaimo at a Ney Dr. home.

During multiple violent outbursts, the victim attempted to leave during an argument when Williams refused to let her go, pinning her down on her bed.

She formed bruises on her arms as a result and her face was covered, making it difficult for her to breathe and speak.

Later that same day Williams forcibly held the woman down again, however the victim’s mother heard the commotion and pulled him off of her.

“Mr. Williams became enraged, smashing household items including TVs, doors and a mirror,” the Crown reported.

Last September a sharp-eyed Nanaimo RCMP officer, knowing Williams had several release order conditions, spotted him outside a Terminal Ave. business.

Williams had a bear spray and a knife on him, both of which he was prohibited from possessing.

Offender’s background

Defence attorney Stephen Littley told court his client has dealt with racism and abuse throughout his life, including from his own First Nation band.

Littley said his client’s Black/First Nations bloodlines have been the source of ridicule.

“Even the Huu-ay-aht people, he finds and his grandmother says, have this racism towards him as a result of that — so he doesn’t get the same level of respect and assistance from his own band members because of that,” Littley said.

Williams’ mother passed away at a young age and he grew up with his grandmother, an uncle, and in ministry care.

Littley said alcohol abuse is a significant issue impacting his client.

Williams, who has a grade eight education, addressed the court saying his family history “has seen a lot of abuse.” He said he was transferred to government care after his uncle physically abused him at about 13 years old while living in Ladysmith.

“Then I aged out of the ministry, I was homeless for a while, homeless on the street staying probably in houses I shouldn’t have been staying in, drug houses and stuff,” Williams said.

Williams is currently enrolled in alternative high school classes in Nanaimo.

He has future aspirations of working in construction and will live for the foreseeable future at his aunt’s home in Lantzville.

Williams was credited for about five months already served behind bars.

While the Crown requested roughly two additional months behind bars, judge Brian Hutcheson was comfortable with a time-served sentence, followed by 18 months probation with numerous restrictive and protective conditions.

“In my view you’ve got a break,” the judge told Williams. “This is probably the last chance for you to turn things around and if you continue to commit offences you’re just going to end up back in jail for a much longer period of time than before. So take advantage of this, sir. Work hard and stay away from the alcohol.”

A five-year weapons ban was also applied against Williams, who was ordered to provide a DNA sample.

Williams was in custody during a series of recent bear spray attacks in Nanaimo.

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Ian.holmes@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @reporterholmes

by Ian Holmes

Habitual offender sentenced for several crimes, including Nanaimo bear spray attack

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