A Penticton panhandler that plead guilty to violating a city bylaw will head back to court after allegedly not paying his fines or completing his community service hours.
In September 2018, Paul Braun agreed to pay $145 ($88 for the bylaw fines and $57 for the court costs) to the city for eight counts of panhandling in the breezeway between Main Street and the alleyway east of the street in the 200 block. He also agreed to complete 60 hours of community service for the city by Dec. 15, 2018.
READ MORE: Video — Panhandler sued by City of Penticton accepts plea deal
It is alleged by the city bylaw supervisor, Tina Siebert, that Braun did not fulfill his hours or pay his fines. Siebert previously told the Western News that Braun had completed some of his designated community service, but alleged he then just stopped showing up.
The city spent an estimated $26,000 in legal costs to bring Braun to court. At the onset of what was expected to be a three-day trial, Braun entered a guilty plea.
As part of the plea deal, Braun is not to be within 10 metres of the 200-block of Main Street for one year and he must comply with the City of Penticton Good Neighbour bylaw which includes no panhandling within 10 metres of an entrance to a bank or trust company, an ATM, a bus stop or shelter; the entrance to a liquor store, movie theatre, place of worship or sidewalk cafe; a payphone, a public washroom or, in this case, an enclosed or covered pedestrian walkway. The plea deal states that if Braun does not comply he will be arrested by RCMP.
Braun is expected to return to the Penticton provincial courthouse on Nov. 20 for the trial.
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