A 15-year-old girl pleaded guilty May 11 in Prince George provincial court to robbery and was sentenced to a six-month deferred custody and supervision order.
The girl, who cannot be identified under the Youth Criminal Justice Act, was also ordered to undergo a year-long Intensive Support and Supervision Program.
“It was a violent robbery that occurred against a woman who was attempting to withdraw money from an ATM,” said Paul Dohm.
“She was accosted and assaulted in multiple ways by the youth, along with two other youths. Some money was taken from her, and the victim had to go to the hospital to deal with her injuries.”
Dohm ordered the girl to stay away from a local liquor store, have no contact with the victim and abstain from alcohol, drugs and weapons.
Crown prosecutor Astitwa Thapa said Prince George RCMP received a report of an assault in progress around 11:15 p.m. on Aug. 6, 2025. A witness at a Tim Hortons heard a girl screaming for help and saw one female punching another.
The victim was taken to University Hospital of Northern BC for treatment of multiple cuts and marks to her face, hands, chest, knee and ankle. She told police that three girls called out to her as she walked toward the CIBC ATM at Spruceland Mall. They demanded she buy them cigarettes or they would damage her car. One of them grabbed her by the hair and demanded money. The victim handed over $20.
“The girls kept hitting and beating her. They hit her with their hands, fists and feet,” Thapa said.
“They also dragged her on the ground.”
The girls grabbed her car keys and opened the door, but the victim managed to shut the door and regain her keys. One of the girls took her wallet and CIBC debit card and demanded her PIN. A third girl stood nearby and recorded the incident on video.
When the girls saw police lights, they ran away.
Dohm accepted a joint sentencing submission. Thapa said that if the girl had not agreed to attend a full-time residential addiction treatment program, the Crown would have sought a jail sentence.
“This is a violent robbery, and it cannot be taken lightly. The accused’s conduct is unacceptable,” Thapa said.
The girl had previously been convicted of assault causing bodily harm on July 30, 2024, for which she received 18 months’ probation. Court heard she is Indigenous, has spent time in government care and has experienced abuse and neglect.
Dohm urged the girl to comply with the court order, especially while attending treatment.
“Go there, do the best you can to complete it. It’s all for your benefit. We want to help you as much as we can to ensure you’re not back before the court,” Dohm said.
He warned that any breach of the order could result in her serving the remainder of the sentence in jail.
