NDCU robber sentenced to 10 years in jail for string of West Kootenay crimes
By Nelson Daily Staff
The man involved in a string of robberies that terrorized financial institutions and the public throughout the West Kootenay in spring of 2014 was handed a 10-year jail sentence by judge Richard Hewson Wednesday morning in Provincial Court.
A clean-shaven Andrew Stevenson stood silent in the prisoner’s box with defence lawyer Ken Wyllie nearby as Judge Hewson read out the sentence.
Stevenson, 35, had pled guilty to eight counts of of robberies earlier this year that started at Johnny’s Grocery in Robson in March of 2014, concluding with his arrest by Nelson Police Department officers on the Kootenay Canal bridge following a brazen daylight heist from the Nelson and District Credit Union.
During the NDCU incident, and the other robbery in Nelson at the Kootenay Exchange on 700 Vernon Street, Stevenson brandished a loaded sawed off shot gun.
The father of two children, aged six and nine, fired the weapon with Kootenay Exchange staff standing behind the door.
Stevenson also plead guilty to robberies at Kootenay Savings Credit Union as well as a pharmacy in Castlegar.
During summations Tuesday, Crown prosecutor Sunday Patola had asked for 11 years due to the danger posed to the public and anxiety left on employees at the various institutions.
Meanwhile, defence lawyer Ken Wyllie told the court Stevenson suffered from rheumatoid arthritis and thus became addicted drugs to reduce the pain and should receive a less term of eight years.
Stevenson, who has been in custody since his arrest in April of 2014, was given credit for time served.
He was quickly led away by BC Sheriffs after Judge Hewson completed his judgement.
The story originated at The Nelson Daily.
