A Surrey man who pleaded guilty to possessing break-in instruments in connection with an incident at an abandoned house in White Rock last year was handed a conditional sentence in Surrey Provincial Court last week.
Richard Dean Hill pleaded guilty to the charge Aug. 21; a charge of theft was stayed.
Hill was among three individuals arrested June 2, 2012, after a resident in the 13600-block of Marine Drive reported hearing a break-in in progress at an abandoned house that was set for demolition.
In imposing a three-month sentence – a term suggested jointly by defense and prosecution lawyers – Judge Andrea Brownstone noted Hill has a criminal record that runs "pretty much without interruption" from about 1995, but none of the previous charges matched those that were before the court.
Brownstone imposed a one-year probation, and conditions including that Hill not to possess tools that could be used for break-and-enter purposes, unless required for employment.