Okanagan Correctional Centre inmate sentenced for assaults while behind bars

An Okanagan Correctional Centre inmate accused of assault while in prison was sentenced in Penticton court today.

Afshin Malecki Ighan, who represented himself and appeared via video link from the prison, entered guilty pleas to two counts of assault with a weapon and one count of assaulting a peace officer in Penticton Supreme Court today, Jan. 28.

The charges stem from two separate incidents at the jail on Sept. 9, 2017 and on March 11, 2018.

Justice Elizabeth MacDonald told court that on Sept. 9, 2017, Ighani approached two men in conversation while in the jail’s recreation centre.

He began arguing with the men before producing a weapon and trying to hit one of the men. He was subdued by guards with the victims receiving lacerations.

On March 11, 2018, Ighani assaulted a prison guard. As he was being returned to his cell, he attempted to flee prior to his cell door being closed, knocking the officer to the floor and grabbing the guard by the throat. Nearby guards were able to intervene but not before the guard suffered various bruises.

The judge noted the 48-year-old Ighani’s “extensive criminal record” in accepting a joint submission from Crown and defence counsel Paul McMurray prior to Ighani dismissing him yesterday.

The judge said Ighani then agreed to proceed with the joint submission on his own.

Judge MacDonald agreed to the terms of 12 months’ jail, concurrent for the two Sept. 9, 2017 assaults, and nine months for the assault on the prison guard for a total of 21 months.

Ighani is also subject to a lifetime firearms prohibition. With time served of 33 months, Ighani’s has served his sentence.

Ighani was recently found not guilty of 10 charges including weapons and kidnapping charges related to an incident in and around Princeton that took place on April 22, 2017.

For more stories on Ighani, click here.

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