A Penticton resident who beat a man repeatedly outside the Penticton Lakeside Resort will not spend time in a jail cell.

Jason Jeremy Webster appeared in Penticton Provincial Court to hear his fate for a brutal beating of a man in 2021.

In December of 2023, Judge Clarke Burnett found that there was no credibility to Webstersa国际传媒檚 claims of self-defence in the beating, and that whatever words may have spurred the confrontation there was no justification for his actions.

Burnett noted that even after sending his victim to the ground Webster continued to attack him, including multiple kicks to the head.

Crown sought to have Webster serve a nine-months jail sentence to meet the needs of denouncing Webstersa国际传媒檚 actions and deterring both him and others. The jail sentence would then have been followed by a yearsa国际传媒檚 probation.

Defence sought to have Webster receive the nine-month sentence, but have it served in the community.

Webster himself addressed the court and apologized for his actions.

sa国际传媒淚f I could take it back, I would, but theresa国际传媒檚 not much I can do at this point except throw myself on the mercy of yourself,sa国际传媒� he said. sa国际传媒淚n hindsight, you were correct, it was sticks and stones. That was my mistake.sa国际传媒�

After taking time to review the submissions from both counsels, including five letters of support for Webster, the judge decided that a conditional sentence in the community would be acceptable, but it would be longer than if he had given out a jail sentence.

The first nine months of the 15-month sentence will be served under 24-hour house arrest, with exceptions for employment. The judge made the unusual point of defending the conditional sentence before going into the conditions.

sa国际传媒淚 will say that many individuals in our community think that a conditional sentence to be served in the community really amounts to not much, if any punishment,sa国际传媒� Burnett noted. sa国际传媒淚 suspect many peoplesa国际传媒檚 views of the conditional sentence have changed since the COVID pandemic because individuals were going somewhat squirrelly, for lack of a better phrase, when they had to be stuck at home for weeks.sa国际传媒�

The judge added that Websters enjoyment of everything, particularly during the summer, would be unavailable due to being confined to his home.

After the first nine months have finished, the remaining six months of the conditional sentence will be spent under a curfew instead of 24-hour house arrest.

Webster will also be required to complete 40 hours of community service, and then after the sentence will have another 12 months on probation.

At the end of sentencing, Burnett gave Webster one last piece of advice.

sa国际传媒淢r. Webster, donsa国际传媒檛 do what you did ever again. When somebody says something stupid to you, walk away,sa国际传媒� the judge said.