A well-known figure of Penticton鈥檚 unhoused community will not be released into the city again.
Terry Voshall, born in 1998, appeared in Penticton Provincial Court on Monday, Jan. 8 where he pleaded guilty to breaching court orders.
One of the breaches involved him cutting through the screen of his window at the facility he鈥檇 been released to in October of 2022 and was caught trading crystal meth through it.
The other incident occurred the first day after arriving at the facility, where despite having gone over and reviewed the rules of the facility, left on his own the next morning without permission or approved personnel accompanying him and continued to do so over the next two days.
A different program at the Lower Mainland also tried to take Voshall in, where he stayed for almost a year between October of 2022 and August of 2023. Crown said that time was very successful, he made progress in learning positive behaviours and transitioning into a healing house in Penticton.
鈥淲hen there is structure in place, he鈥檚 been incredibly successful,鈥� said Crown. 鈥淲hen we look at his record from October 2022, which is a long period of time when we look at Mr. Voshall鈥檚 record, that is something he should be incredibly proud of.鈥�
By November, however, Voshall started leaving the facility despite the ongoing curfew that he was under, and fell back into drug use while hanging out at Fairhaven. He refused at that time to go through detox, which was another breach.
Voshall was last before the courts for sentencing in September of 2022, when he received an 18-month probation order of house arrest and time served for several thefts.
At the time, Voshall was described as having complex and difficult challenges with the legal system. Voshall has an IQ under 70 and has displayed the symptoms of schizophrenia and ADHD, addiction issues and complex issues including an intellectual deficit related to Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder.
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The Crown said that while he should be discouraged from consuming other substances there is some support to allow him to consume marijuana.
The judge gave Voshall effective time served, and another 12-month strict probation will take effect starting on his release.
Voshall, speaking with the judge, expressed his willingness to do what was asked and some concern about what he would do if he were to go out on his own in 麻豆精选, where he does not know the layout.
鈥淚鈥檓 not a bad person,鈥� said Voshall.
Following his sentencing, Voshall will remain in custody at the Okanagan Correctional Centre until a bed becomes available at a facility in 麻豆精选 run by the John Howard Society. The bed is expected to become available in the week following his sentencing.
