A Penticton man with a history of mental health and addictions was sentenced to 22 days in jail and 18 months probation on Feb. 24 after he broke into a family home in 2019.
Kyle Edmon-David Gerkin appeared via video in Penticton Law Courts Feb. 15 for sentencing, but the judge’s decision was put over to Feb. 24 in order to give all of the reports and case law proper review.
In May 2019, Gerkin had broken into the residence through a screen door to the patio deck and began to eat the family’s food, leaving wrappers and an empty ice cream container to be found when they returned home.
The victim told RCMP that he had attempted to hit her before feeling her home. The victim provided officers with photos and video she recorded of the man found in her home.
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Officers arrested Gerkin after spotting him on the streets, and discovered a large amount of unused needles in his backpack. Additional drug paraphernalia was found on the patio deck of the residence Gerkin is accused of breaking into.
He was released after the arrest on the condition of appearing before the courts. On his appearance at the courts in June that year, a search of his pack revealed an x-acto knife and a set of pliers.
He was already on probation for another break and enter in 2018, which he was convicted of and sentenced to jail with a 12 month probation.
Charges of drug possession are also leveled against Gerkin, following an incident in August of 2019, where he was allegedly observed buying drugs from another man under surveillance by the RCMP.
Both Crown and defence described Gerkin as having had a rough life, and both cited long-standing issues with substance abuse that lead to mental health issues.
When the judge asked if Gerkin was still hearing voices, he admitted that they had become rare. The judge expressed her hope that if he continued to remain clean that the issue may be dealt with entirely.
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