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Robbing kidnapped man nets 3.5 years

After time served, the two men, also sentenced for other charges, get 2.5 more years in jail
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James Colt Wilson and William Tyler Soloman appeared in Penticton’s courthouse Wednesday afternoon for a sentencing for various crimes, including the robbery of a kidnapped man. (File photo)

A pair of men will spend two-and-a-half more years in jail, largely for robbing a man who had been held captive and severely beaten by an associate.

James Colt Wilson and William Tyler Soloman were initially accused in the kidnapping of the man — facing charges of aggravated assault, robbery, forcible confinement and disguising the face to commit an offence.

The victim was dating the ex-wife of Shannon Masuskapoe, who gathered a group, including Wilson and Colt, to surround the man in a house. Masuskapoe hit the man over the head with an object and put a bag over his head, ultimately tying him up in a basement.

Related: Forcible confinement sentencing faces ‘troublesome’ delays

Colt and Wilson were found not to have harmed the man physically, although the pair did demand money and cards from him, leading to guilty pleas to robbery and disguising the face charges.

The pair were also entering guilty pleas for their own charges, separate from the incident, with Soloman admitting to being in possession of about $12,000 worth of products from a store in a break-and-enter on Sept. 12 last year.

Though the store regained about $5,000 through insurance, they were at a $7,000 loss from the incident. Judge Gregory Koturbash took particular issue with the fact that Soloman has an extensive record, including 39 total convictions, two of which were for break-and-enters.

Wilson, too, had his own charges to face up to, including several of possession of stolen property under $5,000, false pretence and fraud. That was for his possession of at least one credit card and identification that didn’t belong to him, using them to buy items from various stores. He was also in court for possession of a weapon contrary to a court order, having been found in possession of a sawn-off rifle and ammunition.

Wilson’s record is also heavily blemished, with 38 prior convictions, though Koturbash noted it was less serious offences in his case.

Related: Penticton man racks up over $7,000 on stolen credit card

“I can say with respect to both of these accused that their records demonstrate to me that jail has simply become an occupational hazard for them,” Koturbash said.

Both men got a sentence of three years for the robbery charges, a half-year for disguising their face during the incident and a lifetime firearms ban.

On top of that, Soloman received a one-year sentence for the break-and-enter at the store, as well as an order to pay the remaining $7,000 to the storeowners, making a total of about four-and-a-half years, but with enhanced credit for time served, he will spend just two-and-a-half years more in prison.

Wilson’s crimes with the stolen credit card earned him a total of 120 days, with another 180 days for the firearms charge, making a total of four-and-a-half years before time served.

The latter charge, however, was the more contentious one, which Crown lawyer Andrew Vandersluys suggested could be served concurrent to the other charges — meaning he would gain no additional time in jail for the charge.

Related: Penticton RCMP lay charges in case of forcible confinement

“I can’t find my way to making that a concurrent sentence,” Koturbash said, noting that 180 days is the maximum sentence for the charge.

“Given the nature of the firearm that was possessed with ammunition, I would suggest to you, sir, that is a lenient sentence. I can’t go any higher than that, but I am imposing a sentence of 180 days consecutive.”

Koturbash said the reason for his grievance with that charge is that the rifle had a sawn-off barrel, which “really have no other purpose, but to kill human beings.”

However, Koturbash did say he had higher hopes for Wilson to turn his life around, with young children and less severe crimes under his belt.

After time served, Wilson had just under two-and-a-half years of time remaining to serve in prison, as well.


@dustinrgodfrey
dustin.godfrey@pentictonwesternnews.com
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