Подростка, совершившего случайную捅刺 в Келовне, признали серьезной угрозой общественной безопасности

Kelowna youth remains 'substantial risk to public safety' after random stabbing Youth a danger to public A young teen who stabbed a random person outside of a Kelowna hotel this past May will spend a few more weeks in custody, but his future remains uncertain after “burning bridges” at most youth homes in the area. The 15-year-old has been behind bars since his most recent arrest in mid-July and he was handed a four-month in-custody sentence on Wednesday for the stabbing, followed by a lengthy period of probation. The identity of the youth, who was 14 at the time of the stabbing, is covered by a routine publication ban under the Youth Criminal Justice Act, and Castanet will refer to him as Y.A. During Wednesday's hearing, Crown prosecutor Kevin Short said the stabbing occurred on the morning of May 12 outside the Okanagan Seasons Resort, near the corner of Highway 97 and 33, and described it as an act of “total random, unprovoked violence.” The victim, who was visiting from out of town, was stabbed by Y.A. in the lower back, and Short said “purely fortuitously it didn't cause any damage to kidneys or other organs, but [it] severed blood vessels and caused a lot of bleeding.” "It was very lucky that this gentleman wasn't seriously injured or even killed," Short added. The victim sought treatment for the four-centimetre wound at Kelowna General Hospital, but after the wound became “severely infected,” he was hospitalized for a total of eight days. In addition to pleading guilty to the stabbing, Y.A. also pleaded guilty to stealing a bottle of Crown Royal from a local liquor store in April, damaging his family's gate during an altercation in June and stealing $60 worth of Pokemon cards from London Drugs in July. 'Burned bridges' During Y.A.'s sentencing, Short detailed the mental health and addiction struggles Y.A. has been facing over the past year. Unable to deal with Y.A.'s “outbursts and behaviour,” his family has kicked him out of their home and he's been homeless at times in recent months. Short added that he's been staying some nights at what was described as a “trap house” in Rutland. Y.A. has been diagnosed with “various psychiatric and psychological disorders,” including substance-induced psychosis, but Short says Y.A. is largely in denial about his issues. Short described him as "a substantial risk to public safety.” Y.A.'s probation officer added that his behavioural issues have continued while he's been in custody. “I would love to see [Y.A.'s] behaviour change, but I am of the view that he continues to present a safety concern to the public,” the probation officer said. Prior to his incarceration, Y.A. temporarily stayed at several local youth homes and shelters, but Short said he's “burned all these bridges at almost every place that could be thought of for him to go to.” With credit for time served, Y.A. will be released from custody in about four weeks, but it's not clear where he'll be able to live upon his release. “He's under the care of the Ministry [of Children and Family Development] and he does have a social worker assigned to him,” said defence counsel Michael Stephenson. “Essentially they'll have about four weeks time to make some plans to figure out where [Y.A.] will be residing after.” He'll be under an Intensive Support and Supervision Order for six months following his release, which will include one-on-one work with a social worker, psychiatric treatment and a curfew. The order may also include staying at a “full-time attendance program,” but Stephenson said “at present, there are none that would accept him.” Following that six-month order, Y.A. will remain under a probation order for another 18 months that will maintain his curfew conditions. Short said the Crown would consider lifting the curfew at some point if Y.A. begins making positive changes. Resources exhausted Y.A, attended Wednesday's hearing by way of video, and Judge Andrew Tam had to ask him several times to put his shirt back on. After several interruptions, Judge Tam had Y.A.'s microphone muted. In delivering the sentence, Judge Tam called the matter "obviously a very troubling set of circumstances" and noted that "resources available in the community have all but been exhausted in assisting [Y.A.]" Pointing to Y.A.'s continued issues while in custody and his behaviour during the sentencing hearing, Judge Tam concluded he "remained a risk to the community.” Near the end of the hearing, Y.A. appeared to have a question, raising his hand on the video screen. When Judge Tam unmuted his microphone, Y.A. said: “This is f***ing bulls**t.” “We're not going to tolerate this abusive language,” Judge Tam told him. More Kelowna News