An Oliver woman will repay the Town for destroying one of its little libraries while heavily intoxicated after she set it on fire in 2024.
Crown and Defence for Gabrielle Campen, 21, presented Judge Mariane Armstrong in Penticton Provincial Court on May 30 with a joint submission for a conditional discharge based on her lack of a criminal record, efforts to rehabilitation, and willingness to take responsibility for her actions.
One of the terms of the discharge will be restitution to the town for the estimated $1,200 a new little library would cost.
Campen had been charged with arson, mischief under $5,000, and resisting an officer during her arrest 10 days after the fire.
The joint submission saw Campen plead guilty to the mischief and not guilty to the other charges.
The court was told that the whole incident on Aug. 5, 2024 was recorded on video, which showed Campen making multiple attempts to get the fire started inside the little library next to the Oliver Parks and Recreation Centre.
Campen said that she had no memory of the entire incident, as she heavily intoxicated with alcohol at the time. She had gone and gotten drunk with several friends due to her ex-boyfriend repeatedly breaching a protection order for Campen.
Crown noted that the timing of the fire, being during the summer wildfire season in the South Okanagan, was an aggravating factor to consider as no matter what the intentions may have been, fire does not care what it burns.
In addition to destroying the little library, the fire also scorched the outside wall of the recreation centre, and in the video a piece of burning debris flew out only to land on a rubber mat.
"Flame by its very definition defies human control, and now we're looking at the news that we're seeing in northern Manitoba and Saskatchewan, and it's just terrifying so I don't need to tell you that it's one of the worst things in terms of the potential for harm," said Judge Armstrong. "We are fortunate that in this situation nothing worse happened."
The court also heard that Campen experienced a physically and sexually violent childhood, and that he she has multiple diagnoses including PTSD, for which she has sought out treatment.
Judge Armstrong noted Campen's proactive efforts in seeking out counselling, her efforts to complete her Grade 12 equivalency, her lack of any previous criminal record and her taking responsibility for her actions even if she could not remember them were also factors to consider.
"I'm also really happy to know that you're in counseling and that you, the words that the crown used in the report, that you're just essentially knocking it out of the park in terms of your commitment to counseling," said Judge Armstrong. "I think that's the way forward, and I am very much optimistic that go through all these things."
Campen was ordered to serve an 18-month probation, which if completed will result in her not having a criminal record. The terms of that probation included undergoing treatment as directed by her parole officer, undertaking 30 hours of community work service, and providing the Town of Oliver restitution for the little library.
Judge Armstrong noted that if Campen was handy, which Campen agreed she was, then it might be an option for her to rebuild the the little library instead of having to pay the Town for it.
