A man who pleaded guilty to arson has received a six-month conditional sentence and two years' probation from a Vancouver provincial court judge.
Peter Alexander Koromilas, 26, was charged with arson and breaking and entering to commit an indictable offence in connection with a 2021 incident.
Crown prosecutor Louise Gauld told Judge James Sutherland that Koromilas broke into a construction site at 1503 Kingsway in Vancouver.
He then set fire to toilet paper in a porta-potty. The blaze spread to a nearby portable office and generator, causing $43,000 in damages.
A security guard who watch the events on surveillance called police, court heard.
Koromilas was arrested nearby.
“He expressed remorse,” Gauld said.
Koromilas pleaded guilty in June 2022.
A report to the court said Koromilas had anxiety, depression, substance use issues and suicidal ideation. He had been experiencing relationship problems at the time of the incident.
“Drug use is a method of managing his emotions,” Gauld said.
The sentence suggestion Sutherland endorsed was a joint submission from Crown and defence.
Defence lawyer David Ferguson said his client was at a low point mentally at the time of the incident.
Ferguson said the charge was “a significant jolt to him. He has learned from this.”
“This is a one-off, completely out of character,” Ferguson said. “He’s extremely remorseful.”
Sutherland called arson a serious offence.
“Fire is extremely dangerous and at times lethal,” he told Koromilas.
