Wayne Belleville definitely has a different outlook on life after nearly losing it to prolific offender Ronald Teneycke. Here, Belleville shares a moment with one of his constant companions, who never left his side during the ordeal. (Photo by Lyonel Doherty)

Oliver Mayor Ron Hovanes says talking about dangerous offender Ronald Teneycke is not his favourite topic. But he truly hopes the community can now heal after the habitual criminal was sentenced to  indefinite incarceration on Thursday.

“On behalf of the community we lobbied hard saying that individuals and our community at large had suffered enough because of this one prolific offender,” Hovanes said.

The harm done will not soon be forgotten, he pointed out.

“Quite honestly, lives have been affected forever. I truly hope that we do not have to go through this again.”

Teneycke, 55, was labeled a dangerous offender and sentenced to an indefinite jail term by Judge Richard Hewson in Penticton court. Despite this lengthy term, he would still be eligible for parole. But it was a sentence that many people hoped for and expected.

Defence lawyer Michael Welsh asked for a 10 to 12-year sentence, but Hewson didn’t entertain that idea at all, noting there was basically no hope for Teneycke to be rehabilitated, stating that future acts of violence would be expected of him.

In his report, the judge noted that Teneycke had suffered physical, sexual and psychological abuse as a child.

But one of Teneycke’s victims believes that is no excuse for the reign of terror that the justice system allowed him to subject many people to over the years.

For Wayne Belleville, the healing starts now. In fact, the first words out of his mouth when the Chronicle asked him how he was doing on Thursday was,  “I’m excellent . . . I’m super happy.”

Belleville has been waiting for justice for two years and seven months – ever since he was shot in the back while running away from Teneycke on a deserted logging road east of Oliver.

The furniture maker, unaware that Teneycke was on the lam from police, thought he was picking up a hitchhiker when the offender climbed into his truck.

Now, when he thinks back to that day, he faces self-recrimination.

“Why didn’t I beat the shit out of him? Why didn’t I listen to my dogs who hated him?”

He recalled his dogs being very aggressive when Teneycke approached the truck.

A few minutes later when Belleville realized who was in the vehicle, he made a mad dash in hopes to escape. But a bullet hit his spleen, sending him sprawling.

Belleville said Teneycke was prepared to shoot him again when a car came by and scared him off.

In the courtroom, Belleville listened intently as Hewson read his lengthy report, which included reference to his 37-year criminal history.

Belleville said Teneycke looked like he was falling asleep a number of times.

“Reciting his criminal history is enough to put anyone to sleep,” he said.

Belleville noted the judge stopped the hearing several times to make sure the offender was comprehending everything.

“I had the feeling he (Teneycke) wasn’t clued in to what was happening.”

Belleville said he was prepared to unleash a tirade on the court if the judge hadn’t done the right thing.

“It can be said that the wheels of justice turn slowly, but at least they grind.”

However, he still shakes his head that it took this long to mete out justice on an offender who continually defied court orders.

But what upsets him the most is a previous 90-day intermittent jail sentence that Teneycke was given for making or possessing explosives. He never showed up and instead went on a crime spree in Oliver.

Belleville said that the judge who passed that intermittent sentence should be publicly shamed.

But finally a judge made the right decision and recognized there is no hope for rehabilitation, the victim stated.

“I am happy that Teneycke’s 15 minutes of infamy is over and I look forward to never hearing his name again.”

Belleville gave one of Teneycke’s previous victims a hug after the hearing. She was the woman who the Crown said endured an aggravating sexual assault at the hands of Teneycke in Okanagan Falls a few years ago.

But the judge acquitted the offender, saying there were discrepancies in the woman’s testimony. The court also heard that she was taking drugs at the time of the alleged offence.

Belleville was very upset at the acquittal.

“Is all that it takes to (get away with) raping a woman is to get her to do a line of coke?”

Belleville said Teneycke has “played the system” for years, but now the system has played him.

LYONEL DOHERTY

Special to the Times