Owen Sound Man Avoids Prison in 2025 Hit-and-Run After Guilty Plea to Dangerous Driving
Christopher Little pleaded guilty to dangerous driving in a 2025 Owen Sound hit-and-run and will serve 18 months in the community. All other charges were withdrawn.
Christopher Little will serve no time in jail after pleading guilty Tuesday to dangerous operation of a motor vehicle causing bodily harm, nearly a year after he drove his SUV over a pedestrian after a confrontation in a downtown Owen Sound parking lot.
Little, 42, entered the plea in the Superior Court of Justice in Owen Sound, where Justice Conlan accepted a joint submission from the Crown and defence and sentenced him to an 18-month conditional sentence, to be served in the community, followed by 12 months of probation.
The court also imposed a four-year driving prohibition, a DNA order and a $200 victim surcharge. Four other charges were withdrawn at the Crown’s request, none of which were tested in court.
Collision followed a confrontation in downtown parking lot
In the account Justice Conlan read into the record, Little drove his Range Rover into a parking lot behind a building on 1st Avenue West on the night of June 29, 2025. He got out and approached a group of people sitting on a nearby bench.
The interaction turned into a confrontation involving Little, a witness and the person who was later struck. The witness punched Little in the face, and the victim tried to step in, pushing the witness away from Little’s vehicle.
Little got back into the Range Rover at about 10:13 p.m., backed out of his parking spot and drove forward to leave the lot. The vehicle hit the victim, knocking the victim down, and its front and rear wheels passed over the victim’s chest.
Little got out and tried to help, but people at the scene, angry about what had happened, repeatedly kept him from reaching the victim. He called 911, then left the area and went to the Owen Sound Police Service to inquire about the victim’s condition. Police and paramedics arrived shortly afterward. The incident was captured on a security camera.
The victim was taken to hospital in Owen Sound, then airlifted to Victoria Hospital in London and treated in intensive care before being released.
Little was arrested and released, then rearrested and released again in August 2025.
Justice Conlan: ‘A very bizarre’ case
In his sentencing, Justice Conlan described the case as highly unusual and placed responsibility for the confrontation on Little, while noting the witness had not been the most restrained.
“It is a very bizarre dangerous operation of a motor vehicle case, not one I’ve encountered in 16 years in this business,” he said.
Justice Conlan said none of the people in the group — including the victim — should have been put in the position of deciding how to respond, and that it was Little who “ought not to have done what he did at all.” Little, he said, “had no business approaching these people.”
He called it fortunate the victim “was not even more seriously injured or killed.”
No formal victim impact statement was filed. The court heard the victim is not fearful of Little but wants no contact.
The court also heard the victim continues to experience lingering pain, lightheadedness and memory loss. Justice Conlan described the injuries as long-term and possibly permanent, and said it was not surprising the victim continues to face both physical and mental-health difficulties, including chronic pain and memory problems.
What the court heard about Little
The court heard Little has no criminal record and entered an early guilty plea, which Justice Conlan and defence lawyer Danielle Landry pointed to as evidence of remorse.
The court also heard he has been in counselling and addiction treatment since the incident, that he had faced significant personal challenges over the past three years, including the death of his sister, and that he was a longtime supporter of community organizations. Eight character-reference letters were filed.
Landry told the court the collateral consequences Little has already faced — including the loss of his career, since a criminal record will prevent him from continuing in his former field — act as a strong deterrent against reoffending.
Little worked as an investment adviser and portfolio manager at RBC Dominion Securities until July 29, 2025. A spokesperson for RBC Wealth Management Canada confirmed to Owen Sound Current that his employment with the firm ended on that date.
Little declined to address the court before sentencing, as is his right.
18-month conditional sentence to be served in the community
Little pleaded guilty to one count of dangerous operation of a conveyance causing bodily harm. At the Crown’s request, Justice Conlan marked the remaining four counts withdrawn: failing to stop at an accident resulting in bodily harm, failure to comply with a demand, trafficking cocaine and common nuisance endangering life.
A Highway Traffic Act charge of driving without a licence, the only provincial offence in the case, was withdrawn in January.
The 18-month conditional sentence is structured in three six-month phases: house arrest for the first six months, a 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. curfew for the next six, and general conditions only for the final six.
During the house-arrest phase, Little may leave home for limited reasons, including approved work hours, counselling, community service and medical emergencies. Throughout the sentence, Little must have no contact with the victim and stay at least 50 metres from anywhere he knows the victim to be, and he cannot drive, possess weapons or consume alcohol or non-prescription drugs.
He must report to a supervisor, attend counselling and complete 100 hours of community service. A 12-month probation order follows on similar terms. The victim surcharge is payable within 90 days. The four-year driving prohibition takes effect immediately, and Little cannot drive for its duration or while serving the conditional sentence, whichever conditions run longer.
The sentence followed a joint submission by the Crown and defence. Justice Conlan said he was not bound by the proposal but found it reasonable. A judge may reject a joint submission only in narrow circumstances, where accepting it would bring the administration of justice into disrepute or be contrary to the public interest.
In his reasons, Justice Conlan said, “I find this case to be troubling because certainly the victim did not deserve to face this encounter,” adding, “We should not as a society condone this type of behaviour on the part of the citizenry. People have a right to go about their business without being confronted by some person for whatever reason.”
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