Ronald Teneycke wrote a letter and mailed it to one of his victims in Oliver during his incarceration last summer.
BC Corrections says it was an “oversight” that allowed Ronald Teneycke to mail a letter to one of his victims following last summer’s crime spree in Oliver.
BC Corrections has responded to concerns that the prolific offender was able to have his letter mailed to the owners of Eastside Grocery that he robbed at gunpoint last July. Teneycke was in custody when he wrote the letter.
His correspondence to the proprietors related to the robbery itself, which was not physically violent in nature. A co-owner of the grocery store did not return the Chronicle’s phone call for comment.
Members of Oliver Town council expressed their bewilderment at how Teneycke was permitted to mail correspondence to one of his victims when he was incarcerated.
BC Corrections says they have strict policies concerning inmates’ outgoing and incoming mail. Staff check outgoing mail to ensure it doesn’t violate any court-ordered conditions prohibiting contact between an offender and a particular individual.
“In this particular case, however, the spelling of the recipient’s name on the letter was somewhat altered, which resulted in an oversight by staff and the letter mistakenly being released,” said BC Corrections.
“BC Corrections regrets this oversight and will be reminding staff to closely review correspondence, as per policy.”
Anyone, whether he or she is a victim or not, can contact a correctional centre directly to raise concerns about any mail they have received from an inmate and may request that no further mail be sent to them.
The Town of Oliver plans to write an impact statement in the wake of Ronald Teneycke’s recent guilty pleas to his crimes last summer.
The notorious offender pleaded guilty to robbing Eastside Grocery and discharging a firearm that wounded furniture maker Wayne Belleville.
Teneycke, a former Oliver resident, was the subject of a manhunt 10 months ago after failing to show up for weekend jail time for possessing explosives. He was eventually apprehended during a police chase in a Cawston orchard.
The Town of Oliver previously wrote to the Ministry of Justice seeking dangerous offender status for Teneycke. The Crown is currently seeking such a designation.
Mayor Ron Hovanes said the impact statement will focus on the effect that Teneycke had on the Oliver community. He said some people were sleeping with guns beside their beds while the offender was on the loose.
Ultimately, the Town does not want Teneycke back in Oliver if or when he is released.
But in a letter to the Town, Solicitor General and Public Safety Minister Mike Morris said neither the province nor law enforcement agencies can tell offenders where they can or cannot live; only the courts have that authority. In many cases, offenders choose to return to the area where they were living before their time in custody, Morris said.
It is expected that Teneycke will receive a lengthy jail term for last summer’s offences.
By Lyonel Doherty
