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Prochazka given conditional sentence for part in Stanley Cup riots

Still facing ICBC lawsuit
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After months of waiting and seven court appearances, Whistler's Alex Prochazka has been sentenced for his part in the 2011 Stanley Cup Riots in Vancouver.

Prochazka entered a guilty plea in February for a single charge, taking part in a riot, but wasn't sentenced until Wednesday, Aug. 28. The judge handed down a conditional sentence for 60 days, plus an eight-month probation order. He was also fined $100.

Prochazka, 20 years old at the time, was identified in photos and film footage from the riots, which took place on June 15, 2011. A professional mountain biker and freeskier, he lost his sponsors as a result of the negative publicity and issued an apology shortly afterwards. He hasn't appeared in a competition or major video since the incident, although he's continued to work building trails, to ride and ski.

But while the criminal charge has been resolved there is still the matter of a lawsuit filed by ICBC back in June, which named Prochazka along with 45 other individuals in the destruction of 77 other vehicles. The goal of the suit is to recover some of the costs paid out to the owners of 122 vehicles, including 24 emergency vehicles that were damaged or destroyed by rioters. The vehicle that Prochazka was photographed and filmed near was a green 1996 GMC truck, and ICBC paid $3,448.80 to the owner.

About 350 people have been charged in relation to the riots, which caused an estimated $3.7 million in property damages — not including damage to the vehicles, police costs or court costs. The cost of the investigation alone is over $2 million.

Prochazka filed his response to the civil claim on July 24, admitting his involvement in the riot and the fact that he was present when the vehicle was damaged. However, the claim also denies damaging the vehicle.

According to the claim, "(If) the Defendant converted or damaged Vehicle 1, which is not admitted but which is expressly denied, the Defendant's causal contribution of tortious conduct is trivial in nature and so the Plaintiff (ICBC) is not entitled to claim damages against the Defendant."

The claim also denies being present when any of the other 76 vehicles in the suit were damaged, and therefore denies any responsibility for that damage. ICBC's suit suggests that all of the defendants should be responsible for all the damages to vehicles because they were part of the same riot.