A Vancouver man charged with assaults, including one with a pistol, gun charges and failing to obey release orders was smiling and laughing as he entered Vancouver Provincial Court on Oct. 22 but crying as a judge denied him bail.
Gabriel Johnathan Lance is charged with wilfully resisting or obstructing a peace officer, assault, aggravated assault, discharging a firearm with intent to wound or disfigure, having a prohibited or restricted loaded or unloaded firearm with ammunition, storage of a firearm contrary to regulation, possessing a weapon for a dangerous purpose and two breaches of a release order.
As he walked into the prisoner’s dock, Lance, 27, greeted his lawyer, Doug Soga.
“What’s up, Doug?” he called out. He looked out into the courtroom smiling and laughing.
He waved to his mother, who eventually called back, “I love you, sunshine.”
As Crown prosecutor Joanna Medjuck detailed the case for Judge Patricia Stark, Lance repeatedly looked at his mother and shook his head.
However, as Soga finished speaking and Stark began her decision denying his bail, Lance began to cry, wiping his eyes with his hand and with the red jailhouse sweatshirt he was wearing.
Court documents allege Lance committed the aggravated assault of a man in Vancouver on April 7, and that he discharged a gun at that man with the intent to wound, maim or disfigure.
Lance received bail on April 16 for admission to an addiction treatment centre.
Documents further allege Lance stored, handled or transported a 9mm pistol on the same day contrary to the Firearms Act.
Also for April 7, it’s alleged Lance had an airsoft rifle or pellet gun as well as a loaded 9mm pistol without authorization, licence or registration.
Further, documents allege, Lance failed to comply with a release condition on Aug. 26 for failing to reside at a second addiction treatment centre.
That time, he was again released on conditions Aug. 12 to attend the second treatment centre, with his mother putting down $1,000.
Lance is also charged with being at large on a release order by failing to report as directed Aug. 21-Aug. 27.
Documents show Lance was charged with an assault in Vancouver as well as obstructing a police officer on Sept. 2.
The details of bail hearings are covered by a publication ban.
