The prolific offender who was the subject of a manhunt in the South Okanagan in July made a brief court appearance Monday, while the man Teneycke allegedly shot is frustrated with the slow court process.
Wayne Belleville, the man who Ronald Arthur Teneycke allegedly shot after he was picked up posing as a hitchhiker on the Baldy Mountain Forest Service Road in July, said the court process is “frustrating” four months after the incidents occurred. Belleville received surgery at Kelowna Hospital after the incident.
“Half a year has gone by and still nothing,” Belleville said outside the courtroom Monday after a short hearing had an application for an assessment was made by Teneycke, and a publication ban was placed on all files, delaying the process for at least eight weeks.
Teneycke appeared via video in Penticton Provincial Court Monday.
“I take solace in the fact he’s behind bars,” Belleville said.
Teneycke is facing charges of aggravated assault, wounding, two counts of robbery with a restricted or prohibited firearm, possessing a restricted firearm, failing to stop for police and multiple breaches of probation relating to an alleged crime spree in July which ended dramatically with his arrested in a Cawston orchard.
Crown counsel Murray Kaay from Kelowna has taken on the case, while Penticton lawyer Michael Welsh is Teneycke’s defence counsel.
“This guy (Kaay) came all the way down from Kelowna for 15 minutes of nothing,” Belleville said.
Belleville said that Crown counsel informed him the process may not be completed until a year from now.
In July, a warrant was put out for Teneycke’s arrest after he failed to show up for his intermittent (weekends only) jail sentence after pleading with the court to extend the start date because of health related issues. Teneycke had pleaded guilty to charges of making or possessing explosives and possessing a weapon contrary to a court order earlier this year.
Teneycke is also accused of an armed robbery in the 6400 block of Park Drive in Oliver in July. A man entered the store and produced a weapon. From the description provided, police said they believe it to be similar to that of Teneycke.