A Maple Ridge woman was sentenced to house arrest for taking part in “a violent swarming attack” on her neighbour in the trailer park where they both lived, and stealing her dog.
Shiny Christy Antonius, 49, was found guilty of robbery in June of this year, and on Dec. 8 Madam Justice Shelley Fitzpatrick sentenced her to an 18 month conditional sentence, including six months of house arrest at her home – now in Grande Prairie, Alberta. The order, made in BC Supreme Court in Abbotsford, also prohibits her from consuming or possessing alcohol or controlled substances, and orders her to take take counselling.
Antonius was also ordered to pay $846 in restitution for stealing the dog, and is prohibited from owning firearms and weapons for 10 years.
In May of 2022, Antonius and two other women attacked her victim, to steal her dog, Lucy.
It had been purchased by Antonius as a two-month-old beagle/foxhound pup two years earlier, costing her $560. But she later gave the dog to one of her neighbours in the Ruskin Place mobile home park, citing difficulties caring for the dog.
The woman gave Antonius $110, which was what she could spare at the time.
Days later, Antonius visited the dog at the woman’s home, with regrets about giving the pup away, and wanting it returned.
The woman would not agree to return the dog, but allowed Antonius to take Lucy out sometimes. However, when the dog was spayed, the two women had a disagreement about her post-surgery care, and Antonius’ visits with Lucy were not longer allowed.
Months later, the victim was walking Lucy near her home when Antonius and two younger women attacked her.
“[The victim] says she was assaulted by all three women as they struck, pushed, kicked and pulled her while grabbing and wrestling Lucy from her arms,” said the court records. The younger women then ran to their SUV, which was parked nearby, and threw the dog inside. The victim jumped into the vehicle, but the three assailants dragged her out. She screamed for help, and tried to block the SUV.
Antonius smashed the victim’s glasses on the hood, pulled her to the side, and the SUV sped away.
Antonius got into her own vehicle, and the two women continued to fight through the open window, until a neighbour came and pulled the victim away, and Antonius left.
The victim never saw Lucy again, and doesn’t know what became of her.
The victim said the attack triggered PTSD from a previous unrelated incident, and she is now fearful of leaving her home. She experiences panic attacks, trouble focusing, and nightmares, the court heard. Some neighbours were told that she was abusing the dog, and her reputation in the community has suffered, she said.
“Ms. Antonius, I sincerely hope that you take this sentence as an opportunity to examine your actions and come to an appreciation of the harm that you inflicted on [your victim] when you clearly had other and legal means of resolving your dispute with her,” said the judge.