A 32-year-old man was sentenced in BC Supreme Court on April 4 to spend another 54 days in jail after he pleaded guilty to possessing a firearm while prohibited and possessing a firearm without a licence.
In Williams Lake, Justice Marguerite Church agreed to the joint defence and Crown proposal that Blake Bob Johnny be sentenced to 242 days concurrent on both counts. Johnny had spent 125 days in pre-sentence custody, so he qualified for 188 days enhanced credit, leaving 54 days to serve. The Crown stayed theft and obstructing a peace officer charges.
In her sentencing decision, Church said a Williams Lake RCMP officer who obtained FreshCo store security footage of a shoplifting suspect recognized a firearm visible in the suspect’s waistband. He arrested Johnny nearby without incident.
Church noted that she imposed a mandatory 10-year firearms ban on Johnny in January 2019.
The member of the Anaham band, the youngest of nine children, began his involvement in the criminal justice system in 2008 at age 15. Johnny’s criminal record includes multiple breaches of court orders, robbery, attempted robbery, aggravated assault, break and enter, theft, possession of break-in tools, obstruction and uttering threats.
Johnny has also struggled with addiction since his teens. His father died in 2023 and his mother is in declining health.
Last October, he entered a residential treatment program in the Lower Mainland, but left without permission in February due to loneliness and ended up back in custody.
“He feels he has learned much from his treatment program, and believes he would have more success in a program that was closer to home,” Church said.
Church agreed the proposed sentence was appropriate and not contrary to the public interest or the proper administration of justice. She also prohibited Johnny from possessing any firearm, crossbow, restricted weapon, firearm part, ammunition or explosive device for life.
