A Kelowna man is likely to face a hefty fine after being found guilty of interfering with a helicopter actioning the McDougall Creek wildfires in 2023.
On Aug. 27, 2023, Derek Leippi was in his boat and operating a miniature drone just off the shore of Okanagan Lake Resort. Leippi was using the drone to take video of the wildfire with a focus on the damage of the blaze to the resort.
Leippi was charged about two years after the incident, and Justice Heinrich issued the guilty verdict in Kelowna courts on Feb. 9.
At Leippe’s sentencing hearing on Feb. 24, Crown counsellor Rigel Tessman asked that Leippe be fined $15,000. Tessman noted that the Crown’s recommendation is well below the maximum sentence that could be imposed, a $100,000 fine and one year in prison.
The crown also asked that Leippi issue a public apology, commenting that many people were impacted by the wildfire and the potential harm Leippi’s action could have imposed.
Leippi, representing himself, told Justice Heinrichs that he had no malicious intent by flying his drone that day and called his actions “one isolated mistake.”
The accused asked that little to no fine be imposed, as he said he’s suffered enough already.
Leippi claimed that the media coverage of the charges and trial had negatively impacted his reputation as a realtor and his relationship with colleagues, resulting in struggles with his mental health.
Adding a $15,000 fine, Leippi said, is like adding “more fuel on a fire that’s already burning… that fire being my career.”
Justice Heinrichs asked Leippi to explain what kind of impact a fine of that value would have on him, telling the court that a person’s financial situation is considered when imposing a fine.
“I wouldn’t end up in food lines over it,” Leippi said to the judge.
Justice Heinrichs was not prepared to give a decision and will provide a written decision on sentencing at a later date.