A Vernon man who racked up a laundry list of drug and theft offences was finally sentenced in provincial court in late June.

Cody Wellington was sentenced to 10 years in prison (minus three years time served) for his role in numerous drug, assault and theft cases over a two year period in Vernon. 

Wellington pleaded guilty to:

• two counts of unauthorized possession of a firearm;
• possession of a stolen vehicle;
• theft of a motor vehicle;
• breach of probation;
• two counts of assault of a peace officer with a weapon;
• dangerous driving;
• possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking.

The 30-year-old native of Duncan was sentenced on June 26 in Vernon Provincial Court.

From 2021-2022, Wellington was involved in numerous crimes across the city. Among the most egregious was the assault of a police officer, after stealing a vehicle.

According to the sentencing report, after a resident's vehicle was reported stolen, on Sept. 22, 2022, three officers located the vehicle, with Wellington inside of it. 

"Upon seeing the officer (Cst. Brovold) Wellington exclaimed 'oh shit', and immediately accelerated the vehicle backwards striking the officer with the open door and dragging him 20 feet."

Wellington then braked abruptly before accelerating over the officer's foot. Fortunately, Cst. Brovold suffered only minor bruising. 

Wellington has a criminal record containing 13 convictions, including two convictions for possession of trafficking. Police seized over $4,200 in fentanyl and cocaine from his property on June 30, 2021. The quantities of drugs and "circumstances of the investigation are consistent with Wellington acting as a mid-level drug trafficker."

He also was convicted of break and enter and uttering threats involving an intimate partner. 

A victim impact statement from the former partner of Wellington, explained that she suffers from psychological pain and anxiety, with fears for her and her son's future. 

Among Wellington's breach of a no-contact order, the woman said that she 鈥渇eels if I don鈥檛 respond there is consequences myself and family suffer from Cody鈥檚 next action taken."

Prior to sentencing, Judge George Leven explained that the crimes were "a cocktail of some of the most serious and dangerous criminal activities plaguing our communities."

However, despite the seeking of a 14-year sentence from the crown, Judge Leven delivered a 10 year sentence, minus time served.

"I must exercise restraint in sentencing all offenders but particularly Indigenous offenders," he said of the sentence. "He is also relatively young and his sister is an apparent support in the community and he has taken some rehabilitative steps while in custody."

Wellington's defence was seeking six years.