One more person accused in a kidnapping case from the May long weekend in 2011 was sentenced on Monday.
Spencer Persson was barely 18 years old when he was involved as part of a group of seven who kidnapped and assaulted of two men and one woman. Five of those accused were sentenced earlier this year, with jail terms ranging from 10 to 30 months. In Estevan provincial court March 18, the now 20-year-old Persson was sentenced to 20 months in jail, having previously pleaded guilty to charges of forcible confinement and assault causing bodily harm.
The incident began when the victims were accused of breaking into a house and stealing about $1,000 worth of cocaine. The seven co-accused, including Persson, then rounded up both men and the woman and drove them east of Estevan to a grid road past Shand Power Station.
The group had some weapons with them, including an imitation of a handgun and a bat or tire iron. When the group stopped outside the city, the two males were taken out of the vehicle and assaulted, as the co-accused demanded some form of payment for the allegedly stolen cocaine.
Persson took part in the assault of the two men, who were struck with both the imitation handgun and other weapons. The Crown prosecutor didn't say if Persson used one of the weapons, but it was clear he wasn't the one wielding the gun.
The female victim told the captors she would get $1,000 from her dad, so everyone was put back into the cars and driven back to Estevan.
When they arrived at Spectra Credit Union, the police were waiting, so the groups decided to drive elsewhere in the city. Eventually the woman was let go near the credit union, and the two men were taken home.
Six of the co-accused, Persson included, were then tracked down and arrested quickly, while the seventh fled to British Columbia and was arrested some weeks later.
The Crown prosecutor noted Persson was not a primary part of this plot, but his involvement was still very serious.
His sentence is in line with his co-accused, as two other men in the group were sentenced to 20 months. Persson must submit a DNA sample and is subject to a 10-year firearms prohibition.
In other court proceedings, Justin Garrow appeared in custody via closed-circuit television, answering to a charge of assault causing bodily harm. He pleaded not guilty to the charge, which the Crown noted was an indictable one. Electing to be tried at the provincial court level, a trial was scheduled for March 26, after space had opened up.
Judge Karl Bazin also gave his decision on the voir dire in the case of Michael Shier, charged with assaulting a peace officer.
Shier was intoxicated at the time of the incident and entered a police cruiser. When the officer asked why he was in the car, Shier got out and swung at the officer and failed to connect with his punch. He was subsequently arrested.
During the trial, the defence suggested Shier was not in control of himself. Bazin ultimately decided that he did not believe automatism had any relevance in the events, placing all culpability on Shier.
After a brief sentencing argument between the Crown and defence, Bazin suspended the sentence for 12 months, placing Shier on a number of conditions, including a curfew from 8 p.m. to 7 a.m. for the first three months. He must also seek assessments and treatment for alcohol and complete 50 hours of community service.
