Jumped teen for skateboard

A Kamloops boy who punched a fellow teen in the face while stealing his skateboard — an incident described by the judge as “bullying at its finest” — has been ordered to apologize and spend the next 12 months on probation.

The 15-year-old boy, who cannot be named under the Youth Criminal Justice Act, pleaded guilty Thursday in Kamloops provincial court to one count of assault.

Court heard the teen was among a group of youths hanging out at Lansdowne Village shopping centre on the afternoon of Jan. 4.

Crown prosecutor Oliver Potestio said the boy, who was 14 at the time, first approached the victim and demanded he turn over his nicotine vape. The victim refused.

The teen approached the victim again a short time later — this time demanding his skateboard. When the victim refused again, a struggle ensued and the victim was punched in the face, at which time he let go of the skateboard and retreated into a nearby store to call police.

“[He] could have very easily been charged with robbery in this instance,” Potestio said. “Given that he’s a first time offender, Crown is not seeking a custodial sentence.”

The teen still has the stolen skateboard, which he brought with him to court. He offered to return it to the victim as part of his sentence.

“He tells me the reason this came about is that he was hanging out with people who were a bad influence on him,” defence lawyer Jeff Maxwell said. “He does not want to be someone who is making regular trips to this room.”

Kamloops provincial court Judge Lorianna Bennett sentenced the teen to 12 months of probation, with conditions prohibiting him from having any contact with the victim other than an apology letter he will have to write and provide to his probation officer.

The teen was also ordered to take counselling as directed and complete five hours of community service.

"I can assure you, this is not a room or a building you want to become familiar with,” Bennett said. "Your behaviour was bullying at its finest, is what it sounds like to me."