Pubdate: Fri, 25 Oct 2002
Source: North Island Weekender (CN BC)
Copyright: 2002 North Island Weekender
Contact:  http://www.northislandweekender.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1270
Author: Paul Rudan

DRUG WORLD EXPOSED DURING SENTENCING HEARING

A 20-year-old man on a hunt for drugs stood over the bleeding dealer he had 
just stabbed in the back and delivered a chilling ultimatum, according to 
Crown counsel Bruce Goddard

"I'm going to stand here and watch you die until you give me some [drugs, 
you] f--k," said Goddard in recounting the words of Jonathan Joseph Thomas 
who was demanding drugs and money from his victim, 56-year-old Donald Walters.

On Tuesday in Campbell River provincial court, Thomas was sentenced to a 
total of 34 months in prison after pleading guilty to aggravated assault 
and robbery.

The harsh reality of Campbell River's drug underground came to light during 
the sentencing hearing. Thomas was on bail for a robbery charge when he 
went to Walters' apartment, located in the 600 block of 9th Avenue, just 
after midnight on Sept. 22.

According to Goddard, Walters admitted to police that he dealt drugs but 
had never sold any to Thomas, whom he described as someone who would "bum" 
drugs. He also told police that Thomas was better known as "Ray."

Thomas followed Walters into his third-floor apartment and demanded cash 
and drugs from the dealer who said he had neither. Thomas then grabbed a 
long knife and plunged it into Walters' back. The victim's pitbull dog was 
also stabbed.

After the stabbing Walters tried to protect himself with a baseball bat but 
could not stand up and dragged himself out the front door after Thomas had 
fled the scene.

A neighbour found Walters collapsed outside his front door, bleeding and 
saying, "That f---ing Ray guy. Call 911! Call 911!" said Goddard in reading 
from the police report.

Thomas was caught by police four days later and has remained in jail since 
Sept. 26. As for Walters, the knife attack left a two-inch wound in his 
back resulting in nerve damage that has affected the use of his left leg.

"He will spend considerable time in hospital," noted Goddard.

Defence counsel James Hormoth admitted to Judge Brian Saunderson that his 
client's aggravated assault was a serious charge that stemmed from a 
relationship involving Campbell River's drug underworld.

"It's a wonder to me situations like this don't happen more often," said 
Hormoth who added that there was more to his client's story but did not 
elaborate.

Thomas was handed a 30-month sentence for aggravated assault. He must also 
provide a DNA sample to a national registry and was banned for life from 
possessing firearms.

In addition, he will serve an addition four months for a robbery which 
occurred July 30. In that incident Thomas was drunk and stoned on magic 
mushrooms when he was passenger in a pickup truck which drove past a man 
seated near the corner of Niluht Drive and Shellbourne Blvd. just after 10 p.m.

After noticing the man wearing "flashy jewellry," Thomas got out of the 
truck, confronted him and told him to hand over his necklace. When the man 
refused Thomas said, "We can do this the hard way," Goddard told the court.

Thomas ripped the chain from the man's neck and then the victim handed over 
his bracelet and a cellular phone.

The next day the victim's father located the suspect vehicle and called 
police. RCMP officers were told by the vehicle owner that Thomas was their man.

Officers finally caught up with Thomas on Aug. 15 when they found him 
riding in a vehicle. At first he told police his name was Ben Thomas but 
later he admitted to his real name and was charged with robbery.

He also assisted police in recovering the jewellry which he had given away 
or sold. The cell phone had been tossed into an alley and was never recovered.

Thomas was on bail for robbery when he stabbed Walters.

"This was a very serious assault with serious consequences," said judge 
Saunderson.
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