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Arsonist sentenced to two years in jail Pedro Gonzales Fruit Stand: Employee steals cash, tries to cover his tracks by setting fire to business.
By Martha Wickett OBSeRVeR STAFF
An ill-conceived attempt to destroy a non-existent security camera led to the fiery destruction at Pedro Gonzales Fruit and Garden ltd. in September last year. Adam Michael Schultz, 39, of Salmon Arm, pleaded guilty on Dec. 8 in provincial court to one count of theft over $5,000, as well as one count of arson. Schultz was charged with stealing $7,000 cash from Pedro’s on Sept. 7, 2013, where he had been employed for more than six months as a labourer. He was also charged with one count of arson in relation to the huge blaze that erupted just after midnight on Sept. 9, 2013. The fire destroyed the main building and an adjacent storehouse at the business situated on the Transcanada Highway near 30th Street SW. crown counsel Bill Hilderman outlined the events leading up to the fire for Judge Mayland McKimm. Hilderman said Schultz telephoned nicole Ruth, part owner and bookkeeper, on the afternoon of Sept. 7, saying he wasn’t able to find his paycheque. He was told it would be redone when she returned later that afternoon as the initial cheque had included pay for a day he had taken off. earlier in the day, co-owner Greg Ruth had placed an envelope with about $7,000 cash in the small office off the main building. That Saturday was a busy day and he didn’t want the tills overflowing with cash. Hilderman termed it “kind of an unfortunate situation,” be-
oBServer FIle Photo
Inferno: Firefighters battle the blaze as it destroys much of Pedro Gonzales Fruit and Garden on Sept. 9, 2013. cause the business had purchased a newer safe but didn’t have the combination, so it wasn’t being used. When the Ruths returned and nicole was preparing the cheque, she discovered the cash missing. Just a few employees were working that day, the court heard – a couple of young women on the tills, Schultz, one man who had been asked to keep an eye on the office and a member of the Ruth family. Hilderman said Greg Ruth searched the trucks of Schultz and the other man as they had access to the office, but nothing was found. later that evening, Ruth phoned Schultz, suspecting he had taken the money, and asked to meet him at Tim Hortons. “He said to him that was bad money to take, inferring it came from some kind of nefarious activity, hoping to scare him into returning it,” Hilderman said. The court also heard that Ruth told Schultz there were cam-
eras in the office that perhaps he didn’t know about and, on Monday, he was going to get someone to download the tape to see who stole the money. The criminals involved would then know who to target. The next day, Sunday, Schultz worked a shift and “apparently everything went fairly normally,” Hilderman said. However, just after midnight on Sept. 9, Schultz drove to within a quarter of a mile from Pedro’s and walked to the back of the premises, his intent to break in to steal the camera. When he got there, he realized the only way to break in would be to smash a window, which would set off an alarm. Schultz then decided to start a small fire near the office, in hopes the smoke might damage the camera, or perhaps he would have a chance to go in and get it, Hilderman told the court. Since Schultz did mainteSee Confession on page A2
This week Salmon Arm wrestlers becoming a dominant force in the province. See details on page A17. Pianist Andrew Stoney will play with the Shuswap Singers this weekend. See more on A19.
Christmas cheer
Cheryl PeterSon Photo
Hannah Taylor, a Grade 5 student at Bastion Elementary, leads the finale song, All I Want for Christmas is You, during the school’s Grade 4-5 Christmas concert.
Index Opinion ....................... A6 View Point .................. A7 Life & Times ............... A9 Sports................A15-A17 Time Out................... A18 Arts & Events ... A19-A21 Vol. 107, No. 50, 40 pages