Man pleads guilty after Sask. Pen. guards find shiv

More than three years ago guards at Saskatchewan Penitentiary in Prince Albert found a shiv in the hands of an inmate who already had a long list of weapons offences.

Shawn Keepness, now 29, has been through a lot since then. He was found guilty of manslaughter, transferred to Edmonton, and the Crown successfully applied to have him declared a long-term offender.

He was convicted of manslaughter in 2009 and aggravated assault for a robbery turned homicide that happened two years earlier. Right now he’s serving a 10-year, six-month sentence on those convictions.

In 2011 Keepness was a prisoner in the Penitentiary when he felt threatened and equipped himself for that, according to statements made in Prince Albert’s Court of Queen’s Bench last week.

“He felt like he was being placed into an exercise area that had other inmates that would have been dangerous to him and so he obtained a homemade knife and the guards intervened while he had that in his possession,” said his defence counsel Garth Bendig.

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Keepness was charged with two counts of assault on peace officers and possession of a weapon for dangerous purpose.

He pleaded guilty to possession of the shiv on Monday, but Bendig said “no gestures, or motions or assaultive behaviour occurred.”

Bendig and Crown prosecutor John Morrall came to a joint submission for Keepness’s sentence by Friday.

Their request for a on- year sentence consecutive was prefaced by details of Keepness’s past.

In his life Keepness has received eight youth sentences and six provincial jail sentences, racking up quite the record of weapons offences, according to Morrall.

Keepness has spent much of his time in institutions, starting at the age of six. He went into foster care until he was 12 and group homes following that.

His criminal history started in his teens where he spent time in youth custody and then much of his adult life in jail, Bendig told the court.

One of Keepness’ common practices when out of jail was to carry a butcher knife to ward off attackers, Morrall said, adding Keepness seemed to conduct himself similarly in jail.

However, Morrall added in the circumstances Keepness was under he could see why a knife would be wanted for protection.

Justice Lyle Zuck agreed with the joint submission, which adds a year onto the time he’s currently serving.

During the sentencing Keepness sat quietly, and Zuck thanked all counsel and Keepness for their polite and professional behaviour throughout the proceedings.

claskowski@panow.com

On Twitter: @chelsealaskowsk