A 37-year-old who threw a brick at a pregnant woman in downtown Nanaimo this past summer has been sentenced.
Aiden Tye is a prolific offender with well over 110 criminal convictions.
Friday, Alexander Sheaves, the husband of the woman hit with the brick, returned to the place where it all happened last August, and told CHEK how Tye threw a brick and struck his 34-week pregnant wife in the stomach.
Today a provincial court judge sentenced Tye for it and two other incidents.
“I know the system is broken. There’s no other way to put it like, the system is flawed at best,” said Sheaves.
As an adult, Tye has been criminally convicted more than 110 times stemming back to 2005.
On July 13 Tye was at the Capital City Station in Victoria trying to get a bus back to Nanaimo. Tye was agitated, couldn’t use the phone and tried to buy a ticket with 25 cents. Tye threatened to come back and burn the bus station down.
Several weeks later on Aug. 7, Tye was in Maffeo Sutton Park, during a festival that was taking place with many families around when people saw Tye giving oral sex to a man on a bench. Tye was arrested by police and released.
“How is that okay? I’m sorry that’s indecent exposure. [Tye] shouldn’t be allowed back out, now you’re putting young people at risk of seeing this stuff. I’m sorry that’s ridiculous,” said Sheaves.
The next day Tye was involved in throwing coffee at a restaurant customer before throwing the brick at Sheave’s wife, narrowly missing their four-year-old daughter. The incident now keeps the family away from downtown.
“I refuse to let them come down here anymore because the justice system will allow people like that on our streets constantly. Why would I want to jeopardize my kids,” said Sheaves.
As per a joint submission by the counsels, Judge Ronald Lamperson agreed to time served: 215 days in jail, along with a one-year probation and a weapons prohibition.
The court heard Tye suffers from significant mental health challenges which reduce Tye’s moral culpability.
The judge who said he was familiar with Tye from previous court appearances said he was uncomfortable knowing that “it’s highly likely after being released Tye will commit further offences.” But the judge added that a person also can’t be held in jail indefinitely.
“I don’t think that’s nearly enough time,” said Sheaves.
Fortunately, Sheves’s baby — a son — was born healthy.
Aiden was released from Wilkinson Road Jail near Victoria Friday. The court heard Aiden would be taking a bus to get back to Nanaimo.
Kendall Hanson
