Skip to content

Man with ‘atrocious’ record facing new charges

A Penticton man who Crown alleged introduced a woman to injecting drugs prior to her a accidental overdose is facing new charges.
75585pentictoncourt-sign

A Penticton man who Crown alleged introduced a 19-year-old woman to injecting drugs prior to her dying from an accidental overdose is facing new charges.

Anthony Donavin Werden, 24, is charged with uttering threats, assault with a weapon, assault, possessing weapon for a dangerous purpose and two counts of possession of a controlled substance.

Police reported that a shirtless, intoxicated male was observed threatening people with a knife and a screwdriver in Walmart around 9:30 p.m. July 27. Police located the male and arrested him without incident.

Werden was sentenced to 14 months in jail in September, 2015 after pleading guilty to possessing a stolen vehicle, two counts of obstructing a peace officer, one count of breaking and entering and multiple breaches of probation.

Read more: Man with ‘atrocious’ record sentenced

During Werden’s sentencing in 2015, Crown counsel Nashina Devji called Werden’s criminal record “absolutely atrocious,” noting he had spent significant periods of time in custody for a young man and called him a “well-rounded offender.”

During that sentencing Devji also noted that the 19-year-old Penticton teen who died of a heroin overdose told police Werden introduced her to injecting drugs, something Warden told the judge was a “touchy subject,” though Werden’s defence counsel at the time, Nelson Selmaj, noted that “there is no information that comes from these allegations and that’s not why Mr. Werden is before the court.”

Werden faces an arraignment hearing on Aug. 10 in Penticton Provincial Court.

Read more: Chase lands repeat offender six months in jail