A man who assaulted a worker at Kelowna’s outdoor sheltering site last month will serve six months in jail.
Police responded to the incident at the site along the rail trail, near Richter Street, around 8 am on Jan. 17.
Officers learned that Jonathan Staniforth, who was an overnight occupant at the encampment, had assaulted a man who was working there.
According to the RCMP, Staniforth punched and kicked the victim “several times” before being persuaded away by others.
He was arrested for assault and held in custody before appearing in court the next day, when he pled guilty and was immediately sentenced to six months in jail.
“There was strong collaboration between investigators and our local prosecutors to resolve this matter quickly and appropriately,” explained Staff Sgt. Brendan Dolan.
“It is rare for this type of sentence to be delivered so swiftly, however, it’s perhaps a promising sign that the provincial and national changes that are required to address repeat offending and violent attacks are relevant considerations for today in our justice system.”
He added: “This is a case of a repeat violent offender inflicting harm and violence towards a community member and it will not be tolerated. Everyone deserves to be safe and feel safe in our communities.”
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