A man arrested after found in a stolen van in the parking lot of the Penticton Walmart was denied bail Monday.
James Walter Wilson, 33, faces one count of possession of a controlled substance, one count of possession of stolen property over $5,000, possession of stolen property under $5,000 and one count of breaching probation order. Wilson was arrested on Jan. 27 around 7 p.m. after police converged on him entering a white van reported stolen out of the Calgary area two days prior.
Crown counsel alleged that 1.3 grams of methamphetamine, multiple debit cards, credit cards and checks not in Wilson’s name were found when he was searched after his arrest. The name on the checks matched that of a woman who had reported her check book stolen to police prior to Wilson’s arrest, Crown said. Wilson was previously sentenced to a fine and two years of probation on an unrelated impaired driving charge in May 2013. Crown counsel said that Wilson failed to report to a probation office as ordered since October 2014. A warrant was still standing for Wilson and executed upon his arrest. Wilson’s defence counsel Robert Maxwell said his client borrowed the van as well as the wallet containing multiple debit cards and checks from a friend, noting Wilson was cooperative with police from the moment of his arrest.
Maxwell told the court Wilson’s friend was also under investigation by police.
Wilson, who attended the bail hearing via video from the Kamloops Regional Correctional Centre, told court that the credit cards found on his person were pre-paid Mastercards, not personal credit cards.
“I apologize for being caught in the mix of anything like this. I have turned my life around,” he said.
Judge Phillip Seagram noted Wilson’s prior convictions including possession of a controlled substance, possession of stolen property and three prior convictions of breaching probation orders.
“While the ultimate strength of (Wilson’s) explanation is something that may be considered in court, it seems pretty thin at this point based on the record and circumstances of Mr. Wilson’s arrest on these charges,” said Seagram.