One of the two men arrested in connection with September’s ATM break-ins, which left thousands of dollars in damage around the West Kootenay, has been sentenced.
Darrin Christopher Hoffman was sentenced to two years in jail and ordered to pay $50,000 in restitution to Kootenay Savings and $40,000 to Heritage Credit Union.
Hoffman appeared in Rossland Provincial Court last Thursday on four counts of break and enter and two counts of attempt to commit or accessory after the fact.
He and Julian Alexander Hoekstra were arrested in December. Hoffman was arrested on Dec. 26 in Osoyoos, while Hoekstra was found in Surrey on Dec. 18.
In September 2010, four ATMs were targeted over five days at the West Kootenay Regional Airport, the Kootenay Savings at Highway 3A and Highway 6 junction, the Kootenay Savings at the Waneta Mall in Trail and the Heritage Credit Union in Slocan Park. The thieves were only successful in taking money from the ATM at the airport, but damage was done to all four ATM machines.
Hoekstra is scheduled to appear for sentencing in Rossland Provincial Court on May 5.