A 22-year-old man pleaded guilty Sept. 3 in Prince George to breaching a probation order by failing to complete 20 hours of community work service.
Provincial Court Judge Cassandra Malfair fined Jordon Zachery Roland Cote $500 after a joint proposal by Crown and defence lawyers.
“Well, it's unfortunate you didn't get those community work service hours done, because now this is going to show on your record,” Malfair said to Cote.
Malfair heard that Cote was sentenced to a year on probation on March 5, 2024, including an order to perform 20 hours of community work by Feb. 5. He failed to report by phone to a probation officer on March 5, 2025 and failed to provide proof that he completed the hours of work.
Cote’s criminal record includes two 2024 mischief charges and assault and theft under $5,000 in 2025, all of which resulted in conditional discharge sentences.
His lawyer, Benjamin Levine, said in court that Cote told him he did about five hours of work service, but did not explain why he did not do more. Levine said Cote is Indigenous, from Fort St. James and now living in Prince George.
While his client is relying on social assistance for now, Levine said he has the resources to pay the fine.
Malfair set a March 31, 2026 deadline for Cote to pay.
