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Four-month jail term for Stanley Cup rioter

Bradley Peters of Abbotsford previously pleaded guilty to participating in a riot.
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Bradley Peters

A local man has been sentenced to a four-month jail term followed by 15 months' probation for his part in the 2011 Stanley Cup riot.

Bradley James Peters, 21, who was born and raised in Abbotsford and now lives in Mission, was sentenced Tuesday in Vancouver provincial court.

He previously pleaded guilty to one count of participating in a riot. Three counts of mischief were stayed.

Evidence presented at Peters' sentencing hearing last month included several video clips of his participation in the riot that followed the Vancouver Canucks' loss to the Boston Bruins in game seven of the Stanley Cup final on June 15, 2011.

Peters repeatedly kicked the glass doors of the Canada Post headquarters on Georgia Street in an attempt to smash them.

He was then among dozens of people who damaged two Vancouver Police cars in a parking lot. Peters, seen on video wearing a Canucks jersey sporting Ryan Kesler's #17, kicked one of the vehicles and was among those who tried to overturn it.

He also told the crowd to flip the vehicle, and he stood by while others set the cars on fire.

Peters was then among a crowd that attacked two smart cars in another area of the parking lot, including trying to overturn one onto its roof.

Peters did not turn himself in to police, but was identified through photos that were posted on Facebook. He was arrested and interviewed by the Abbotsford Police Department on Nov. 3, 2011.

Four days before the riot, Peters had been arrested for allegedly breaching the conditions of his bail following an assault charge.

He had apparently consumed alcohol, contrary to his conditions, and spent two days in jail. He was released just two days before the riot on further conditions, including to keep the peace and be on good behaviour.

His lawyer, Vincent Michaels, indicated that Peters has not been in trouble with the law since the riot and works at two full-time jobs – in construction as a carpenter during the day, and as a caregiver four nights a week for a 12-year-old boy with severe autism.

Michaels said Peters, who grew up in a devout Christian family, has also returned to his religious roots and is now a "peaceful, calm, focused person" and a productive member of society.

"It is hard to reconcile that kind of person with the person we saw in those videos," Michaels said at the sentencing hearing.

He said Peters is "ashamed and sorry" for his actions and accepts full responsibility, as evidenced by his guilty plea.

Crown counsel had recommended a jail term of 12 months, while Michaels suggested four months.

Another local man, Luke Patillo of Abbotsford, also 21, was sentenced in August to a 45-day intermittent jail term – to be served on weekends – for his role in the riot. Patillo did not have a prior criminal record.



Vikki Hopes

About the Author: Vikki Hopes

I have been a journalist for almost 40 years, and have been at the Abbotsford News since 1991.
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