Michael Williams convicted of Spencer Chandra Herbert office attack

The man who walked into the office of Vancouver MLA Spencer Chandra Herbert and punched his assistant Murray Bilida last February has been found guilty of assault.

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Michael Melvin Williams, who was 53 at the time, was convicted of assault in connection to the incident on Thursday, according to a statement released by Chandra Herbert.

He was given a non-conditional suspended sentence and one years probation, a member of Chandra Herbert's team confirmed with CBC News.

At the time of the incident, police said the intoxicated man walked into the MLA's constituency office uttering homophobic slurs. When he was asked to leave, he damaged a door inside the office and punched the employee in the face.

Chandra Herbert said the man was apparently angry about arainbow flag hanging in the front windowof hisoffice, and about another rainbow flag that is displayedin awindow atthe West End Community Centre.

In a statement released on Friday, Herbert said the flags are still flying.

"The Pride flag will remain in our office, on the West End Library and Community Centre, and in our community and province as an enduring symbol of inclusiveness and love for all people," said Herbert.