Kamloops man agrees to psychiatric treatment after stabbing at social services centre

A man who stabbed and threatened a Kamloops non-profit worker agreed to seek psychiatric help as part of his criminal sentence.

Richard Annett-Chartier, born in 1991, pleaded guilty in Kamloops Provincial Court April 8, for charges related to a stabbing at The Loop, an outreach and social services centre on the North Shore.

As part of his sentence, he will be required to attend forensic psychiatric services for intake, counselling or treatment for his mental health issues, depending on direction from his probation officer.

The order is not the only condition on Annett-Chartier's probation, but it is the only one he had to give consent for.

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The Loop coordinator Glen Hilke reported the stabbing to Kamloops RCMP on Feb. 24 after Annett-Chartier appeared to be struggling with a psychotic episode and delusions.

Amid Annett-Chartier's enraged claims that The Loop belonged to him, based on inheritance from his family, Hilke was punched while trying to move Annett-Chartier out of the building.

After getting him out of the building, Annett-Chartier returned and managed to stab Hilke in the forearm as he tried to lock him out of the building.

Hilke said he hasn't experienced such a violent, upsetting incident in his 40 years working with disenfranchised communities.

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After already spending more than 40 days in custody, Annett-Chartier was sentenced to time served, along with a 12-month probation ordered by Justice Stella Frame. This includes a ruling that he cannot be within 100 metres of The Loop or Hilke.

Crown prosecutor Alex Janse suggested that a probation officer could help Annett-Chartier access a supportive housing facility.

A frequent client of The Loop, Annett-Chartier is unhoused and has mental health issues, which the Court did not detail. Janse did say that he was suffering from a psychotic disorder, including "strong delusional themes."

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She also noted that Annett-Chartier has not been consistently taking prescribed medication, but he does regularly "self-medicate" using illicit drugs. Part of the probation order will include a ruling that he cannot possess any controlled substance and he is to continue with a treatment plan.

When asked about his reaction to the sentence, Hilke was happy that Annett-Chartier is getting psychiatric help as part of his sentence. However, he is concerned about where Annett-Chartier will continue to be housed over the course of his treatment and probation.

"My concern for him is where does he go once he leaves the courthouse," Hilke said. "Where does he turn when it comes to housing and food? If he's going to be treated like a pariah, it puts him under so much more stress."

Along with the assault with a weapon and probation breach charges Annett-Chartier pleaded guilty for, four other counts were stayed in the proceedings. Those included assault, uttering threats, forcible entry and mischief.

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