The Comox Valley teen convicted of the murder of 19-year-old James Denton will serve the rest of his sentence in a federal penitentiary system. Justice Brian MacKenzie approved the youth's application at his mandatory one-year hearing in B.C. Supreme Court at the Courtenay Courthouse Jan. 6.
"It's rare that a youth wants to go to the adult system," said Alex Langran, a probation officer from Victoria who had to research how something like this might be accomplished. "This has never been done in the province."
Denton was stabbed twice in the vicinity of G.P. Vanier Secondary School following a music festival at the nearby Comox Valley Exhibition Grounds in July 2011.
Last year, the teen received the maximum sentence of seven years for second-degree murder for the crime under the Youth Criminal Justice Act (four years in custody, three in the community).
Defence counsel Michael Mulligan said the youth would now have access to more programs in the federal system.
"It appears that he would be OK," he said, adding no physical contact with his family is allowed in the provincial system. "He accepts his lot."
In order to move into the federal system the youth, who cannot be named because of his age, first had to transfer from the youth justice system to a period of provincial incarceration.
The teen completed high school prior to sentencing and is now looking forward to furthering his electrical apprenticeship studies.
He spent some time in solitary confinement, his lawyer confirmed.
"He accepts his lot," Mulligan said.
From the prisoners box the teen, sporting a shaved head and wrinkled grey shirt, addressed the judge.
"Thank you, your honour," he said.
He will be eligible for release in about a year.
