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Hanging Judge goes easy on local Sooke publisher

Rod Sluggett will be put in jail until he makes his bail at Tour de Rock fundraiser
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Sooke News Mirror publisher Rod Sluggett is shown being “arrested” by local RCMP

They threw him over the back of a police car, handcuffed him and arrested him.

He hadn’t done anything wrong and he did have his day in court. Little good it did him. Cries of police brutality and fixed juries went unheard.

Sooke News Mirror publisher Rod Sluggett will have to serve time in jail.

On September 13 Sluggett will begin serving the sentence imposed upon him by Judge Hang M. High. Prosecutor Yumas B. Guilty outlined all of the misdeeds carried out by Sluggett, which was everything from extended coffee breaks to jaywalking across Sooke Road.

When arresting Sluggett Staff Sergeant Jeff McArthur said, “a guilty look is all you need.”

On Saturday, September 13 the Sooke Committee for the Tour de Rock will build a jail at the kiosk area at Evergreen Centre to house “criminals” such as Sluggett. They will be jailed until such a time as they can raise the necessary bail. Bail raised can be used to release these prisoners or to keep them locked up. All of the “bail” money raised will go to Cops for Cancer.

“We did this two years ago and made $7,500,” said Jane Beddows, organizer for Tour de Rock/Cops for Cancer.

Bail money for Sluggett can be dropped off at the Sooke News Mirror office, #4-6631 Sooke Road.

This time the Jailathon will feature the fire department bouncy house, refreshments by donation, a bake sale, music by Janet McTavish and a whole lot more.

The Sooke Committee for the Tour de Rock hopes this will be great show and also bring awareness to this important cause.

Former Sooke RCMP detachment Staff Sergeant Steve Wright will be riding with Tour de Rock and the Sooke Lions is throwing their support behind him.

“He’s the only RCMP from the lower Island riding in the Tour de Rock,” said Beddows. “And he is a member of the Sooke Lions Club.” He is also the only Lions Club member to take on the ride.

Wright is a Sooke resident, although he works in the Westshore detachment.

He said he is “very excited” about doing the ride. He decided to join the Tour de Rock because he wanted to help because every family is affected by cancer.

“I always wanted to do it and this is my chance to raise money for these kids. Unfortunately it is an ongoing battle against cancer,” said Wright.

Wright went to Camp Goodtimes and said it was a heartwarming experience to see where the money is going.

“I’m ready to go, I’m in the final stages of training and I’ve been training on my own as well. It’s been a long haul.  It’s a great experience. The community of Sooke is a very generous supporter of this,” said Wright.

Wright has been training for the grueling 14-day Tour de Rock, riding 1,000 kms. on his bike. He starts the journey in Port Hardy on September 20 and arrives in Victoria on October 4.

Wright is riding to raise money and awareness for childhood cancer research and sending these children to Camp Goodtimes, a camp specifically for children with cancer and their families. The riders will be in Sooke on October 1 at approximately 2 p.m.