6.5 years for sex show theft

Photo: RCMP

Cal Little

Cal Little lived a crime-free life for 50 years, raising two daughters with his wife while holding down steady jobs and starting his own construction company with his wife in 2011. On Friday, at age 52, Little was sentenced to 6.5 years in jail for a July 2016 armed robbery.

In January, Little and Heather Nystrom were found guilty of robbing a man at gunpoint on July 13, 2016 after entering his home under the guise of performing a live sex show. Nystrom was 23 years old at the time.

The pair were arrested by police in Rutland on July 15, high on cocaine with two sawed-off shotguns and a bag full of 20 cell phones. When the lone officer attempted to arrest the pair, Little attempted to unzip a duffel bag at his feet, which contained one of the loaded guns.

Justice Jane Cartwright said the arresting officer was in “grave danger.”

Little's path to crime appeared to have started after he began an affair in December 2015 with Nystrom, who was working as an escort at the time. He separated from his wife around this same time.

While Little had no history of drug abuse, he began using cocaine with Nystrom.

Just eight months after Nystrom and Little met, the pair were arrested for the robbery.

The trial had its own drama. Despite losing his lawyer in May 2017 and telling the court he would proceed with trial without counsel, Little applied to adjourn his case on his first day of trial in August.

After Justice Cartwright denied the application, Little told the court he was having a stroke and was taken to hospital.

After several days, the Crown subpoenaed Little's doctor, who told the court Little did not, in fact, have a stroke, and there was nothing preventing his trial from continuing.

Then, after the Crown wrapped up its case against Little in December, he jumped bail. He was found by police near downtown Kelowna in mid-January.

“Mr. Little claims he was en route to turning himself in on Jan. 14, but this is not believable given that Crown advises that he was arrested after he was chased,” Justice Cartwright said.

Little has since found himself a lawyer, who argued earlier this week that Little should serve a five-year sentence, the mandatory minimum sentence for armed robbery, and his additional six firearm charges should be served at the same time as the robbery charge. The Crown had argued a total sentence of 8.8 years was appropriate.

On Friday, Justice Cartwright handed Little a 6.5-year sentence, minus 236 days for time already served in custody.

Nystrom was given a six-year total sentence back in May. Justice Cartwright said Little was more blameworthy in the robbery, as he was the one who brandished the weapon.