Burglar out on time served

Photo: Colin Dacre

A South Okanagan woman will be out of jail by the end of the week after pleading guilty to burglary and firearms charges.

Chelsey Thorstenson, 31, was sentenced to 11 months in prison Monday in Penticton court, time she has already almost completely served.

Thorstenson’s fingerprints were found at the scene of an interrupted break-and-enter at a rural property on Summerland's Garnet Valley Road on Dec. 21, 2017. A man stopping by his elderly mother’s home saw an unknown pickup truck parked in front of the house.

A man and woman exited the house and hopped into the truck, smashing into the home’s garage and witnesses truck, avoiding the son’s attempt to block them in.

The back door had been pried open and the home was completely tossed, while gas was stolen out of the locked fuel tanks.

She was arrested a few weeks later on Jan. 9 in Penticton at the Sahara Courtyard Inn. She was caught in a vehicle that contained a handgun — which bore her fingerprints — and a rifle.

In the vehicle with her was her boyfriend and prolific offender Waylon Faulhafer, and Jesse McKnight, who was shot and killed earlier this month north of Oliver.

Thorstenson pleaded guilty to one count of occupying a vehicle knowing a firearm is present and one count of break and enter.

Crown prosecutor Andrew Vandersluys argued for a two year total sentence, whereas defence lawyer James Pennington asked for time served. She already had 326 days worth of pre-sentence credit.

“I’ve had a large amount of time to reflect on the actions that have wound me up in here,” Thorstenson said from the Oliver prison via video conference. “I’m extremely embarrassed and 100 per cent remorseful for any pain or problems or for all the victims involved and careless behaviour.”

The court heard that Thorstenson has thrived behind bars, holding down two prison jobs, completed several employment skills courses and has come close to achieving her GED.

Judge Michelle Daneliuk lectured her on the violation the break-and-enter was for the elderly victim, who luckily was not home at the time.

She sentenced her to nine months prison for the break and enter and 60 days for the weapons charge. That leaves three days left on her sentence, which will be followed by 12 months of probation.

“You’ve done remarkable things in the last eight months and you should be very proud of yourself, it would be just an incredible waste for all that progress to see you return to the life that you were leading before you came into custody,” Daneliuk said after handing down the sentence, urging Thorstenson to surround herself with better people moving forward.