The local woman convicted as an accomplice in armed robberies in Nelson has been given nearly five years in prison.
28 year old Krista Kalmikoff – who has drug addiction and mental health problems – was convicted as getaway driver for then partner Andrew Stevenson when he targetted the Kootenay Currency Exchange and Credit Union two weeks apart in April 2014.
She was also found guilty of fleeing police and possession of stolen property.
Prosecutor Sunday Patola says the sentence of 4 years 9 months is fair and sends a strong message.
Defence lawyer Blair Suffredine had always argued Kalmikoff was not a scheming player in the robberies but only had a “bit part” and may not have known Stevenson was committing armed robbery as she waited in the car.
With credit for time already served Kalmikoff gets a total of four and a half years in jail.
Stevenson was previously sentenced to ten years in jail and his crimes included armed robbery at the credit union in Castlegar and Johnny’s Grocery in Robson.
