Pauls cuts a deal, takes lesser charge

A man charged with pepper spraying a police officer back in February of this year will only spend two months behind bars.

As CHBC reported Monday, Mark Aaron Pauls entered into a plea agreement and pled guilty to two of four charges against him as his B.C. Supreme Court trial was set to begin.

The crown agreed to drop two other charges because of an apparent case of mistaken identity.

Back in February, a plainclothes RCMP member noticed Pauls, who was wanted on a Canada-wide warrant, outside a Rutland home.

The officer pulled his weapon and Pauls pulled out a can of bear spray and hit the cop who fired three times.

A chase ensued before Pauls and the officer again exchanged bear spray and gunfire.

Pauls was left with serious bullet wounds to both of his legs.

He later told another officer he believed he was being robbed. Pauls was carrying $600 in cash and says he didn't know the man was a cop.

Due to the circumstances, crown dropped the charges of assaulting a peace officer and assault with a weapon.

Pauls pled guilty to the lesser charges of carrying a concealed weapon and carrying a prohibited weapon.

He was sentenced to one year in jail with 10 months credit for time served. Pauls was also given one year probation.

Meantime, the officer involved in the shooting, Kent Hall, is facing charges of his own.

Hall, who says he fired in self defence, is charged with careless use of a firearm.

That trial has not yet begun.