A homeless man who claimed to be infected with the COVID-19 virus when he was arrested aboard a stolen yacht early Monday has been denied bail.
Justin Lecky-Harris, 25, appeared in Victoria provincial court Friday afternoon for a bail hearing.
Crown prosecutor Patrick Weir and defence lawyer Tybring Hemphill made their submissions by phone due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Judge Carmen Rogers ordered a publication ban on the proceedings, which means the lawyers’ submission and the judge’s reasons for detaining Lecky-Harris cannot be reported.
Lecky-Harris is charged with breaking into the Son Seeker IV, a 54-foot powerboat, stealing the vessel, committing mischief by wilfully damaging the boat and damaging the dock, dangerous operation of the vessel, possession of a stolen wallet and failing to comply with his release conditions by possessing a knife and consuming alcohol or non-prescription drugs.
It’s not known when Lecky-Harris will appear in court again. Regular court operations have been suspended to protect the health and safety of court users and to help contain the spread of COVID-19. The courts are hearing urgent matters only.
At 4:10 a.m. Monday, Oak Bay police received a call from someone reporting the theft of an expensive yacht from Oak Bay Marina.
Officers called the Canadian Coast Guard for assistance. Via webcam footage, they could see a man paddling a canoe from the shore to the slip at the marina where the 54-foot yacht was docked.
The man forced his way onto the boat, listed for sale for more than $450,000, and drove it to a spot near the Oak Bay Beach Hotel.
The coast guard took three Oak Bay officers out to the stolen yacht.
They arrested a man who claimed to have the virus. Officers placed a mask on him and took him to hospital, where he was determined not to have the virus.
The Son Seeker IV has been towed back to Oak Bay Marina.
