A Powell River man has been sentenced after appearing in Powell River Provincial Court on five charges.
According to a media release from Powell River RCMP sergeant Sandi Swanson, on June 24, 2021, at 10:39 am, police responded to a robbery at the 4500 block of Harwood Avenue. Swanson stated that the victim reported that a male approached him about the headphones he was wearing and assaulted him by hitting him with a shovel, stealing the headphones, and fleeing the scene. A short time later, at 10:59 am, police responded to an assault with a weapon report at a business in the 6700 block of Marine Avenue, according to Swanson.
“Police interviewed the victims on scene, who reported that a male entered the business, made a small purchase, became angry and confrontational,” said Swanson. “The male did not leave the property, and assaulted three staff members by bear-spraying them, and threatened to burn the business down.”
Swanson stated that police identified and arrested the male suspect, Leslie Harold Brownjohn, 42 years old, of Powell River. Crown counsel approved five charges as recommended by the RCMP, according to Swanson.
“Those charges were one count of robbery, one count of possessing a weapon for a dangerous purpose, one count of assault with a weapon, one count of administering noxious substance/bear spray with intent, and uttering threats to damage property,” stated Swanson.
On February 22, Brownjohn appeared in Powell River Provincial Court and was convicted of assault with a weapon and uttering threats, added Swanson. Brownjohn’s sentence, issued by the court, is a conditional sentence order (CSO) of eight months, with a 24-hour house arrest condition for the first four months of the CSO, followed by two years of probation, according to Swanson.
A stay of proceedings was entered on the robbery, possessing a weapon for a dangerous purpose and administering noxious substance/bear spray with intent, stated Swanson.
