A provincial court judge in Prince George gave a man an 18-month conditional discharge on March 12 after he pleaded guilty to stealing liquor under $5,000 and assaulting his ex-girlfriend.
Jordon Zachery Roland Cote, 22, will not have a criminal record if he successfully completes the 18-month probation.
“Domestic violence is taken very seriously and, generally speaking, wouldn't be in the public's interest to have no record for that type of offence,” said Judge Cassandra Malfair. “But I've taken into account it was a joint submission, I'm taking account your Indigenous background, and with the addition of a counselling term that will address some of the issues that are causing you to come before the courts, I think that would be beneficial.”
Court heard that Cote hid a bottle of Smirnoff Red Label vodka, worth $40, in his pants and walked past the clerks and out of a BC Liquor Store in Cache Creek on April 27, 2024. The store manager discovered the theft after reviewing store surveillance footage.
In the other incident, on June 30, 2024, Cote called a woman a derogatory name, grabbed her, threw her to the ground and smashed her cell phone.
Malfair’s conditions for Cote include 50 hours of community work service, no communication or contact with two named individuals, no weapons and a prohibition from visiting any BC Liquor Store location.
