Man Sentenced in Nelson After Dangerous Driving While Impaired by Mushrooms
Lucas Tremblay
7/15/20262 min read
A man whose dangerous driving in southeastern British Columbia prompted about 50 calls to 911 has been sentenced after previously pleading guilty to dangerous driving and drug possession charges.
Jivat Aragon-Martinez, of Alberta, was given a conditional sentence of two years less a day by the B.C. Supreme Court last Friday.
A ruling published Monday says Aragon-Martinez drove at excessive speeds through Grand Forks and Nelson in late August 2024 after consuming mushrooms.
The court found he was either impaired by psilocybin or experiencing a mental health crisis related to his use of it.
Driving Continued After Collision
According to the ruling, Aragon-Martinez rammed the vehicle of an off-duty police officer but continued driving afterward.
The ruling says his Honda’s engine was “smoking and steaming,” with the hood flipped open and blocking the windshield.
He only came to a stop after hitting a rock face.
After getting out of the vehicle, Aragon-Martinez struggled with police as they arrested him.
Nearly 800 Grams of Psilocybin Found
The court heard Aragon-Martinez had nearly 800 grams of psilocybin in his backpack.
The ruling says the 49-year-old was born in Mexico and became a Canadian citizen in 2014.
Before the events leading to his conviction, the court described him as having led a “pro-social life.”
However, the ruling says he later faced financial difficulties that worsened during the pandemic after he refused to be vaccinated, eventually becoming “effectively homeless.”
Court Notes Mental Health Concerns
The ruling says Aragon-Martinez spent 75 days at the 2022 Coutts border truck blockade.
After leaving, he was able to find work as a welder, but his housing situation remained unstable.
The court said his mental health diagnosis remains unclear, apart from a substance-induced psychotic disorder.
The judge also expressed concern that Aragon-Martinez had repeatedly refused antipsychotic medication.
After his release, Aragon-Martinez also accumulated a criminal record that included assault with a weapon, uttering threats, mischief and breaching a release order.
Conditional Sentence Includes Recovery House Curfew
The ruling says Aragon-Martinez has been experiencing mental health breakdowns that have brought him into conflict with the law.
It also says he wants another chance to prove to his children that he is a good man.
The judge imposed several conditions as part of the sentence.
Those include a curfew while Aragon-Martinez lives at a recovery house in Penticton.
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