A forgetful Kamloops burglar who was busted returning to the scene of the crime hours after a downtown break-in has been sentenced to nine months in jail.
Justin James Brown-Henderson, 27, pleaded guilty Wednesday in Kamloops provincial court to a string of charges stemming from incidents that took place between June and October of last year.
Court heard Mounties were called to an office in the 200-block of Fourth Avenue at about 9 p.m. on Sept. 30 for a report of a break-in.
Police determined a burglar entered the building through a rooftop window and rummaged through a number of desks and offices. Investigators found a briefcase and a ball cap on the roof, but no sign of the burglar.
A few hours later, just after midnight, police were called back to the same business for another break-in alarm. This time, a light could be seen coming from an office so Mounties knew there was someone inside.
“A male’s voice could be heard and there were loud smashing sounds coming from the southeast corner offices,” Crown prosecutor Bill Hilderman said in court.
“Smashing glass could clearly be heard.”
Police called out to him and Brown-Henderson emerged from the office, crying and with bloodied hands.
“Mr. Brown-Henderson was sobbing at the time,” Hilderman said.
“He said it was just a mistake and he came inside to grab something he’d forgotten.”
Hilderman said investigators matched Brown-Henderson’s shoes to footprints found on the roof of the building, linking him to both break-ins. Brown-Henderson later told police he found a case of Corona in the office fridge and was trying to drink as many beers as possible before Mounties arrived.
“He chuckled and said there was a fridge beside him so he chugged as many as he could,” Hilderman said.
Brown-Henderson also pleaded guilty to two counts of possession of stolen property stemming from separate vehicle thefts, and a number of charges related to a break-in at a Tranquille Road liquor store last August. In that instance, he broke into the Angry Otter and made off with 14 bottles of booze, 76 packs of cigarettes and more than $100 from a donation jar.
Provincial court Judge Lisa Wyatt sentenced Brown-Henderson to 270 days in jail to be followed by 18 months of probation. Once given credit for time served, he will have 72 days left to serve behind bars.
In addition to the jail time, Wyatt ordered Brown-Henderson to submit a sample of his DNA to a national criminal database.
