Kelowna Man Loses Jury Trial Right After Missing Sexual Assault Court Date
Justice Hewson ruled Brandon Hildebrand Acosta forfeited a jury trial after he missed court and did not contact his lawyer or the court.
- A Kelowna man, Brandon Hildebrand Acosta, lost his right to a jury trial after failing to appear for his sexual assault trial on Sept. 29, 2025, under the Criminal Code of Canada.
- Defence counsel told Justice Hewson that Hildebrand Acosta struggled with alcohol addiction, which escalated after his partner, Jami Bridges, suffered a miscarriage at their Kettle Valley home on Sept. 29, 2025.
- While Justice Hewson called the miscarriage an "understandable explanation," he ruled voluntary intoxication was not a legitimate excuse; the Crown argued the accused had access to a phone that morning.
- Arrested by Kelowna RCMP on unrelated shoplifting charges, the sexual assault trial will now proceed before a judge alone in September 2026.
- Previously declared a mistrial in 2024 through no fault of the defendant, the case will now resume after the accused had appeared as required for his initial 2024 trial.
11 Articles
11 Articles
Judge denies jury trial bid for Kelowna man accused of sexual assault - Fort St. James Caledonia Courier
A Kelowna man has lost his right to be tried by a jury of his peers after he failed to show up to court. Brandon Hildebrand Acosta appeared in person in the B.C. Supreme Court in Kelowna to file an application to retain his right to be tried by both a judge and a jury after he did not show up at the start of his jury trial. Hildebrand Acosta was scheduled to appear for the selection of a jury and the start of a sexual assault trial on Sept. 29, …
Judge denies jury trial bid for Kelowna man accused of sexual assault - Grand Forks Gazette
A Kelowna man has lost his right to be tried by a jury of his peers after he failed to show up to court. Brandon Hildebrand Acosta appeared in person in the B.C. Supreme Court in Kelowna to file an application to retain his right to be tried by both a judge and a jury after he did not show up at the start of his jury trial. Hildebrand Acosta was scheduled to appear for the selection of a jury and the start of a sexual assault trial on Sept. 29, …
Judge denies jury trial bid for Kelowna man accused of sexual assault - Vanderhoof Omineca Express
A Kelowna man has lost his right to be tried by a jury of his peers after he failed to show up to court. Brandon Hildebrand Acosta appeared in person in the B.C. Supreme Court in Kelowna to file an application to retain his right to be tried by both a judge and a jury after he did not show up at the start of his jury trial. Hildebrand Acosta was scheduled to appear for the selection of a jury and the start of a sexual assault trial on Sept. 29, …
Judge denies jury trial bid for Kelowna man accused of sexual assault - Northern Sentinel
A Kelowna man has lost his right to be tried by a jury of his peers after he failed to show up to court. Brandon Hildebrand Acosta appeared in person in the B.C. Supreme Court in Kelowna to file an application to retain his right to be tried by both a judge and a jury after he did not show up at the start of his jury trial. Hildebrand Acosta was scheduled to appear for the selection of a jury and the start of a sexual assault trial on Sept. 29, …
Penticton Western News
Judge denies jury trial bid for Kelowna man accused of sexual assault
A Kelowna man has lost his right to be tried by a jury of his peers after he failed to show up to court. Brandon Hildebrand Acosta appeared in person in the B.C. Supreme Court in Kelowna to file an application to retain his right to be tried by both a judge and a jury after he did not show up at the start of his jury trial. Hildebrand Acosta was scheduled to appear for the selection of a jury and the start of a sexual assault trial on Sept. 29, …
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