The Canadian Press
KAMLOOPS, B.C. — An RCMP officer who beat up an aboriginal man and dumped him in a rural area outside of Merritt, B.C., has been sentenced to six months' house arrest.
Constable Saxon Peters pleaded guilty to assault causing bodily harm for the July 2005 attack on Glenn Shuter, who Peters believed had information in a stolen bicycle case.
B.C. Supreme Court Judge Robert Powers called Peters a person of good character who made a serious error in judgment.
Judge Powers rejected the defence plea for a conditional discharge, saying that would not be a sufficient deterrent.
In addition to house arrest, Const. Peters must perform 50 hours of community service, obey a curfew and is banned from carrying firearms.
Const. Peters has been suspended without pay by the RCMP and still faces an internal disciplinary hearing.