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More jail time and more trials pending for troubled Campbell River man

A 27-year-old man with a lengthy criminal record will be spending the holidays behind bars

A 27-year-old man with a lengthy criminal record will be spending the holidays behind bars and will get out in the new year to face two trials.

Justin Upton was ordered to spend another 47 days in jail after pleading guilty to obstructing police and violating bail conditions.

“Lying to the police isn’t really a good idea,” said Judge Justine Saunders on Monday.

It’s not the first time that Upton has appeared in the Campbell River provincial courtroom.

He appeared in 2009 on charges of resisting arrest, in 2008 for using a stolen credit card, and in Surrey in 2007 for possession of stolen property.

He’s also facing trial in Victoria and Vancouver in the new year. Upton is pleading not guilty in both cases.

“I’m not expecting those two cases to end in conviction,” Upton’s lawyer told the judge.

On April 24, 2012, Upton was one of three men arrested by a special police tactical unit who had them under surveillance at semi-rural property in Langford.

According to police, the suspects allegedly tried to rob a medical marijuana grow operation.

The three were arrested and police seized body armour, a Browning 9mm Luger, a Smith and Wesson revolver, a sledgehammer, duct tape and masks.

That trial is slated for the new year in Victoria, but in late October, Upton was in Campbell River to visit his sick grandfather. He was stopped by police because a tail light was out in his 2005 Ford Mustang.

Upton then proceeded to give the officer not one, but two false names.

Police quickly figured out who he really was and also learned he was wanted on warrants out of Vancouver and Victoria for breaching terms of his bail.

The Vancouver charge is connected to a domestic violence incident, said Crown prosecutor Adrienne Venturini.

Upton was in jail for 41 days, before pleading guilty to obstruction and breach on Monday. The judge gave him an additional 47 days and also encouraged him to change his ways.

“I’m sorry for my actions and I take responsibility. I had a rough bringing up,” said Upton, who was orphaned at a young age.

Justin Upton was ordered to spend another 47 days in jail after pleading guilty to obstructing police and violating bail conditions.

“Lying to the police isn’t really a good idea,” said Judge Justine Saunders on Monday.

It’s not the first time that Upton has appeared in the Campbell River provincial courtroom.

He appeared in 2009 on charges of resisting arrest, in 2008 for using a stolen credit card, and in Surrey in 2007 for possession of stolen property.

He’s also facing trial in Victoria and Vancouver in the new year. Upton is pleading not guilty in both cases.

“I’m not expecting those two cases to end in conviction,” Upton’s lawyer told the judge.

On April 24, 2012, Upton was one of three men arrested by a special police tactical unit who had them under surveillance at semi-rural property in Langford.

According to police, the suspects allegedly tried to rob a medical marijuana grow operation.

The three were arrested and police seized body armour, a Browning 9mm Luger, a Smith and Wesson revolver, a sledgehammer, duct tape and masks.

That trial is slated for the new year in Victoria, but in late October, Upton was in Campbell River to visit his sick grandfather. He was stopped by police because a tail light was out in his 2005 Ford Mustang.

Upton then proceeded to give the officer not one, but two false names.

Police quickly figured out who he really was and also learned he was wanted on warrants out of Vancouver and Victoria for breaching terms of his bail.

The Vancouver charge is connected to a domestic violence incident, said Crown prosecutor Adrienne Venturini.

Upton was in jail for 41 days, before pleading guilty to obstruction and breach on Monday. The judge gave him an additional 47 days and also encouraged him to change his ways.

“I’m sorry for my actions and I take responsibility. I had a rough bringing up,” said Upton, who was orphaned at a young age.