A Merritt man will face one count of aggravated assault in B.C. Supreme Court for his alleged role in a beating that left a man permanently without his left eye and unable to walk without assistance.
Ron Karlson Jr. is scheduled to have a preliminary trial in April before his case goes to the province’s highest court.
The 26-year-old was arrested in October for allegedly beating the 51-year-old victim into a coma.
The victim allegedly owed the Karlsons money.
RCMP also arrested his father, Ron Karlson Sr., for threatening witnesses to the beating. The 48-year-old plead guilty to obstruction of justice in provincial court on Feb. 1. He was sentenced to 120 days in jail and one year probation, but was given credit for time served.
RCMP expected Karlson Sr. to be released from jail this week.
RCMP found the victim severely beaten and unconscious on Oct. 10 at about 9:40 p.m. He spent an unspecified length of time in a coma at Kamloops ICU, and had facial reconstruction surgery. The man has since emerged from his coma, but now requires assistance to walk, and has a poor memory, RCMP Const. Tracy Dunsmore said. He also permanently lost his left eye in the beating.
Karlson Sr.’s daughter, Candace, is also facing a slew of charges. The 27-year-old was arrested on Jan. 15 as part of an ongoing drug investigation.
Candace faces one count of dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, three counts of uttering threats, and four counts of possession for the purpose of trafficking.
She is scheduled to be sentenced on March 4 in Kamloops provincial court.
A 22-year-old female was also arrested in connection with the drug investigation. She is scheduled to appear in provincial court in April.
