James Robert Diegel has pleaded guilty to one charge of mischief in relation to an April 26, 2023 vehicle fire in Sechelt’s Hightide Supportive Housing's parking lot. Diegel appeared in Sechelt Provincial Court May 30 and had been slated for sentencing on a charge of arson (damage to own property).
Hon. Judge Steven Merrick accepted the amended charge and plea and ordered a brief pre-sentencing report, including psychiatric details, prepared.
Crown counsel Tim McKelvey and defence counsel Michael Smith requested the amended charge. McKelvey told the court that he doesn't think jail is the "right place” for the accused and that consideration of the pre-sentencing report could meet the need to get to a point where he has "done enough with respect to the public safety component to suggest that a conditional sentence order is appropriate.”
Diegel agreed he committed mischief through his actions, which caused the residents and staff of Hightide to evacuate the facility for their safety.
Background
On the date in question, Diegel was in the Hightide parking area where he asked another party to help him acquire a quantity of heroin, McKelvey stated. If unable to secure the requested drugs, Diegel said he would crash his van, which he indicated contained six propane canisters, into the building. The other individual alerted the authorities at Hightide, which resulted in a report to the RCMP and a building evacuation.
The RCMP attended the scene along with the Sechelt Fire Department. Diegel, ignited a fire inside his locked vehicle and was subsequently rescued by an RCMP officer. After the fire was extinguished, the RCMP located one canister of propane and a manifesto that Diegel had written in the van. The accused was then transported to Sechelt Hospital, where he remained as a patient until an Aug. 16 court appearance, at which he was released from custody with conditions.
The next hearing is set for June 4, at which point a sentencing date can be set, likely in September or October.
