Oliver Town council wants Ronald Teneycke to be labelled a “dangerous offender” in order to protect the community. Teneycke is still in custody facing numerous charges stemming from last summer’s robbery and shooting incident in Oliver.
It was difficult for Oliver Town council to be optimistic after receiving a response from the Minister of Justice regarding prolific offender Ronald Teneycke.
Last year Oliver Mayor Ron Hovanes wrote a letter to Attorney General Suzanne Anton about declaring Teneycke a dangerous offender, and the concern about offenders like Teneycke being returned to the communities where they committed their crimes.
Teneycke was the subject of a manhunt last summer. The Crown alleges that he robbed Eastside Grocery and shot an Oliver man (Wayne Belleville) on McKinney Road. He is currently in custody awaiting his arraignment.
In her letter, Anton said decisions on prosecution files are made by Crown counsel, independent of government.
She said the decision to seek dangerous offender designation for any offender falls under the Crown’s capability after a legal analysis. Anton noted that the Crown cannot apply for such a designation for a person accused of a crime. These applications can only be made after a finding of guilt and during the sentencing stage.
“In this particular case you raise, there has been no finding of guilt, and so any consideration of sentencing options, including an application for dangerous offender designation, is very premature,” Anton said.
The minister reminded Hovanes that an accused is always presumed innocent until guilt is proven.
After reading the letter, Councillor Jack Bennest said it proves to him that the system is more about judges and lawyers than public safety.
Hovanes said Anton referred to the accused as always being presumed innocent. “But tell that to the guy that was shot. Ask him where his missing spleen is.”
The mayor said council will be writing another letter requesting dangerous offender designation for Teneycke if he is convicted.
