Lengthy prison sentence for home invasion type robbery of elderly Okanagan woman

The maximum sentence for his crimes is life in prison.

But the Okanagan man was handed a five and a half year prison term Tuesday for the home invasion style robbery of an 85-year-old woman that was fueled by a severe drug addiction.

“I only needed more drugs, I was angry, mad at myself, I didn’t care if I lived or died, all I was caring about was getting drugs,” Benjamin Duane Barnhart said.

On Oct. 25, 2015, Barnhart was wearing a mask and packing a crowbar when he forced open a window of the woman’s West Kelowna home at about 2 a.m.

Barnhart struggled with his victim, tied a scarf over her mouth, and restrained her in a crawl space.

He demanded drugs but left with about $250 and credit and bank cards which he used to withdraw $800 and make several purchases.

Barnhart was positively identified through surveillance camera images and pleaded guilty.

The victim was left bruised and continues to live in fear that Barnhart will return to exact his revenge.

In sentencing the 25-year-old man, the judge noted Barhnart’s chaotic childhood, history of mental illness, and his illicit drug use that began at a very early age.

While in jail, Barnhart has taken drug and counselling programs and the judge was cautiously optimistic he had “turned the corner and is ready to put his drug lifestyle behind him.”

But Greg Koturbash also said: “Denunciation is paramount consideration in cases of this kind. Courts must denounce in strong terms the violent violation of the sanctity and privacy of a home. Society’s collective condemnation must be strongly emphasized.”

After getting enhanced credit for time served since his arrest, Barnhart has 1357 days remaining on his prison sentence.

A psychiatric report identified him as a moderate risk for future violence.