A Port Alberni man has been sentenced to five years in prison after a homemade explosive device detonated outside a local safe consumption site, seriously injuring a worker.
In a decision released February 19th, Judge A. Wolf of the Provincial Court of BC sentenced John Mathew Thomsen to a total of 60 months in jail for offences related to the March 22nd, 2024 explosion.
Thomsen previously pleaded guilty to three charges of causing bodily harm by explosion, possession of an explosive substance and possession of an explosive substance while prohibited.
According to court documents, police were contacted after Thomsen allegedly threatened to make a bomb and blow up the Safe Injection Site and Sobering Centre on 3rd Avenue in Port Alberni.
Staff told investigators Thomsen had been increasingly agitated and had been talking about bombs for some time.
The night of the incident, Thomsen reportedly asked support worker Brianne Crowe to come outside because he had something important to show her.
Crowe later told police Thomsen was holding an object with a string and a lighter. Before she could stop him, the device exploded.
She described hearing an extremely loud blast and experiencing intense pain in her eye. Shrapnel struck her eye, causing significant injuries and temporary vision loss that lasted several weeks.
Video footage obtained by police showed a large flash outside the building followed by people on the ground.
Thomsen also suffered injuries in the explosion.
Investigators also learned Thomsen had previously made repeated comments to staff about bombs and blowing up locations.
Court records show Thomsen was already under a 10-year prohibition order from possessing explosive substances in addition to several lifetime weapons prohibitions.
The judge noted Thomsen has had more than 25 years of involvement with the criminal justice system including convictions for robbery, sexual assault, assault with a weapon, arson, uttering threats and numerous breaches of court orders.
A psychological assessment presented in court found Thomsen suffers from stimulant and opioid use disorders, antisocial personality disorder and psychosis believed to be linked to substance use.
The report concluded he presents a moderate to high risk of future violence. Thomsen told evaluators he planned to continue using drugs including marijuana and crystal meth after release.
In his ruling, Judge Wolf said the offence was extremely serious and emphasized the risk posed by explosives, finding Thomsen’s moral culpability was extremely high particularly because he committed the offence while under court orders banning him from possessing explosives.
Judge Wolf also concluded probation would not likely improve public safety, citing Thomsen’s history of breaching supervision orders.
Thomsen was sentenced to four years for causing bodily harm by explosion, four years concurrent for possession of an explosive substance and one year consecutive for breaching the weapons prohibition order, for a total of five years in prison.
Because Thomsen had already spent about 701 days in pre-trial custody, he will serve approximately 39 more months behind bars.
The court also imposed ancillary orders including weapons prohibitions.
