A West Kelowna man has been ordered to serve another 505 days in prison after being found guilty in a case of intimate partner violence.
Stephen Daniel Hayes was convicted on Oct. 23, 2025, of breaking and entering, uttering or conveying a threat to cause death or bodily harm, and the carrying, using, handling, shipping and transporting of firearms in a careless manner from two incidents in February 2024.
As heard in court on Dec. 11 under Justice Hardwick, Hayes and the victim, identified as L.H., were previously married and living together with L.H.’s three biological children, none of whom are related to Hayes. The pair had separated in December 2023. The victim continued to live in the couple’s joint rental property on McTaggert Road in West Kelowna with the children, and the lease was transferred solely into L.H.’s name.
Hayes maintained contact with L.H. and her children, and on Feb. 17, 2024, Hayes had arranged to pick up the oldest child for a weekend at Big White Ski Resort. At the time, Hayes was residing in a condo at the resort owned by his mother.
In reading the circumstances of the offence, Justice Hardwick stated that Hayes arrived at the McTaggert Road home in an agitated state, initiating a verbal altercation with L.H. outside the home.
According to L.H., Hayes was upset because after the separation from Hayes, she had been observed by a third party smoking a cigarette outside with a male she described as an “old friend” while attending a hockey game with her children.
Hayes called L.H. multiple derogatory terms and had described to L.H. how he had been excessively speeding from Big White on his way to pick up the eldest child.
L.H. decided Hayes’ behaviour was unstable, and she no longer consented to her oldest child leaving with Hayes. L.H. had legal staus as parent/guardian of the children, and with no written agreement or court order that permitted Hayes have contact with the children, Justice Hardwick said L.H. was in her right to do so.
Hayes made it clear he intended to leave with the child, and in an attempt to de-escalate the situation, the child was prepared to leave voluntarily with Hayes.
With Hayes driving away and L.H.’s oldest child in the passenger seat, she admitted to court that she yelled to Hayes, “You are a dead man.”
L.H. did not take immediate action against Hayes. She went inside, locked the door to the home and told her two children and their peer who was visiting to go to the children’s bedroom and close the door.
Hayes did not leave with the oldest child, instead parking the vehicle and, as shown on the home security footage, Hayes kicked in the front door of the home in an aggressive manner.
L.H. met Hayes just inside the entrance of the home, where she testified he said, “You are a dead woman.”
Hayes ultimately left the property with the oldest child. L.H reported the incident to RCMP immediately.
Hayes was arrested on Feb. 19, 2024, at the Big White condo. He was transported to an RCMP detachment, where a comment made by Hayes to an officer, believed to be related to firearms, resulted in a search of the condo.
Police found a handgun inside a nightstand dresser drawer and a long gun under the bed in the bedroom belonging to Hayes. Both weapons were loaded.
Crown agrued for a jail sentence of 48 months less time served for the offence.
Justice Hardwick ultimately ordered that Hayres serve 20 months for the charges of breaking and entering and uttering threats, and an additional two months for the firearms offences, less time served credited at 155 days.
Hayes has also been issued a 10-year weapons prohibition. His firearms were seized, and Hayes is to have no contact with L.H. while in custody.