Welland Tribune e-edition

Riot at youth facility caused $7,500 damage

ALISON LANGLEY ALISON LANGLEY IS A ST. CATHARINES-BASED REPORTER FOR THE NIAGARA FALLS REVIEW. REACH HER VIA EMAIL: ALISON.LANGLEY @NIAGARADAILIES.COM

An 18-year-old was the catalyst for a riot that caused thousands of dollars in damage at a youth custodial facility and led a staff member to question his career choices, court heard Thursday.

The riot at Peninsula Youth Centre in Pelham in October 2021 caused staff to evacuate the Cream Street facility.

A victim impact statement submitted in Ontario Court of Justice in St. Catharines detailed how one staff member no longer feels he is as effective at his job as he was before the violent incident.

“He’s not as trusting, and is not as open and approachable on the floor (of the facility),” Judge Donald Wolfe said.

“This has had significant consequences for not only the direct victims, but the community as a whole as people in the future may not get perhaps the same level of attention that they might otherwise be receiving.”

The offender, who was17 and serving a custodial sentence at the time of the offence, cannot be named under the Youth Criminal Justice Act.

In court Thursday, he was sentenced to time served followed by probation for 12 months on charges of mischief and assault with a weapon.

Court heard the incident began after a staff member at the facility had attempted to reprimand the young man and was punched in the head.

“This act of violence was unnecessary and gratuitous under the circumstances, and it caused a larger set of actions,” said assistant Crown attorney Henry Limheng.

What followed was a violent riot with four teens trashing the facility to the tune of more than $7,500 in damage.

The melee ended after police were called in to diffuse the situation.

A 15-year-old who also participated in the Peninsula Youth Centre riot appeared in court at an earlier date and was placed on probation for two years.

LOCAL

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2022-12-03T08:00:00.0000000Z

2022-12-03T08:00:00.0000000Z

https://wellandtribune.pressreader.com/article/281543704950386

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