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Day parole for driver who killed Mountie

Day parole has been continued for six months for Kenneth Jacob Fenton, who was found guilty in July 2017 of impaired driving causing the death of West Shore RCMP Const. Sarah Beckett. Beckett was 32 and the mother of two young boys.
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Kenneth Fenton was sentenced to five and a half years last July and already he’s out on day parole. Lawrie McFarlane asks: With Fenton's history of drunk driving, what kind of message does this send?

Day parole has been continued for six months for Kenneth Jacob Fenton, who was found guilty in July 2017 of impaired driving causing the death of West Shore RCMP Const. Sarah Beckett.

Beckett was 32 and the mother of two young boys.

She was killed April 5, 2016, when her marked police car was hit broadside at 3:27 a.m. at the intersection of Goldstream Avenue and Peatt Road in Langford.

Fenton was sentenced to four years in prison for Beckett’s death, and was also given an 18-month sentence for a May 2016 incident in which he was driving drunk when a passenger was seriously hurt.

That incident came six weeks after Beckett’s death.

Fenton’s day parole was initiated last August. It comes with conditions that include not consuming alcohol or drugs, following a treatment plan for alcohol or substance abuse, not owning or operating a motor vehicle, and reporting all sexual and non-sexual relationships with women to a parole supervisor.

He is also restricted from having any contact with Beckett’s family or friends, and is to stay away from West Shore communities.

The Parole Board of Canada said in written comments about further day parole that Fenton is required to continue to go to 12-step meetings and hold a job.

“The [Correctional Service of Canada] is of the opinion that your risk remains manageable in the community,” the board said. “You have demonstrated positive behaviour by securing employment and attending AA.”

The board said it was mindful of the gravity of Fenton’s offences in granting more parole.

“The impact of your actions, your attitudes that justified and rationalized your decision to drive impaired, not once, but twice, your disregard for rules and non-compliance with court-imposed conditions remain concerning aspects of your case.”

The board said it has put considerable weight on Fenton’s “commitment to sobriety.”

Overnight leave is not yet authorized, the board said.

It said Fenton is in the “early stages” of a properly reported relationship and had been hoping for overnight leave. He lives in a community residential facility, or halfway house.

jwbell@timescolonist.com