Trent Ferris has been connected to at least two armed robberies in Prince Albert, as well as a number of vehicle thefts in Saskatchewan and Alberta. (File photo/ paNOW Staff)

By Nigel Maxwell

Crime

Repeat armed robber receives six-year prison sentence

Apr 2, 2020 | 2:00 PM

The man responsible for a pair of armed robberies in Prince Albert has received a six-year prison sentence in connection to the two incidents, as well as a number of other crimes, all committed within a two-week time span.

Trent Ferris, 33, was arrested in the early morning hours of Nov. 9, 2019 and pleaded guilty to a number of charges including robbery, failure to appear to court, dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, possession of stolen property, and wearing a mask with intent to commit a crime.

The first incident happened Nov. 3, 2019 at the Shell gas station on 15th St. E.

According to the statement of facts read in court by Crown prosecutor Gail Douglas, two men entered the store around 11 p.m. One unknown man, holding a gun, remained at the door to keep a lookout. Ferris, who was dressed all in black with the exception of an orange toque, held a knife to the store employee’s chest while he demanded money and cigarettes. A display case full of lottery tickets were also taken. The total value of the stolen goods was over $3,346.61, Douglas said.

While obviously shaken up by what transpired, the store employee was not physically hurt and the two suspects sped off in a black Ford truck. Douglas said for three days afterward Ferris bragged about the incident to a friend on social media.

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“I did my first dirty and I liked it a lot LOL,” Douglas said he wrote.

A photo of the suspect’s vehicle, captured on the store’s security camera. (submitted photo/Prince Albert Police Service)

The store employee, who according to Douglas described the thieves as being “polite” and “dedicated,” did not provide a victim impact statement, and later quit his job as a result of the incident.

On the afternoon of Nov. 8, Ferris was spotted on the south side of the city near the Eastview Trailer Court, getting into a white Tundra truck. When police caught up with the vehicle, Ferris was behind the wheel, and sped off southbound on Highway 2. Douglas said Ferris’s speed reached 130 km/h and he continued to pass vehicles.

The pursuit was terminated soon after and police later learned the truck was stolen, as well as a snowmobile Ferris was seen driving. Police later recovered the snowmobile.

The following morning, police responded to a robbery at the Husky gas bar on Second Ave. W. This time Ferris worked alone. Armed with a gun, he left the store with cigarettes, lottery tickets, and the store’s cash register till. The value of the stolen items was $4,132.58

“He put everything in a garbage bag and left,” Douglas explained.

Ferris then sped off in the same white Tundra truck, but this time police were on his heels and located him on 28th St. E. and 10th Ave.

“They continue northbound to River Street East where the suspect vehicle jumps the curb and heads westbound on rotary trail,” Douglas said.

Douglas explained the pursuit continued throughout the city, with Ferris paying no attention to stop signs or signal lights. At times he was observed engaging speeds up to 90 km/h and driving into oncoming traffic.

Near Marquis and Sixth Ave. E., officers deployed a spike belt, but Ferris continued on before the truck — riding on only two tires — lost control near Lake Estates. The suspect vehicle came to a halt on the pond after colliding with a police vehicle.

A photo of the stolen truck Ferris was driving. (submitted photo/Sask. Courts)

Ferris tried to flee on foot but was soon caught by one of the officers and dragged to the ground. Ferris continued to resist arrest.

“One officer is yelling at this point in time that Mr. Ferris is trying to bite his ankle,” Douglas said.

As many as four officers were on scene by this time and applied restraint straps in order to get Ferris under control, who continued to squirm and kicked the door of the police vehicle, Douglas said. Ferris has been in custody since the incident.

The six-year sentence was a joint submission by the Crown and defence lawyers, but Judge Hugh Harradence quickly interjected.

“Is that contrary to the public interest? You need to tell me why it’s not,” he asked.

Legal Aid lawyer Loretta Markowski explained her client struggles with alcohol and drug addictions, and was remorseful for his actions.

“He’s very cognizant of the consequences of his actions,” she said, adding Ferris was intelligent, articulate and had a lot of family support.

At the conclusion of Thursday’s sentencing hearing at Prince Albert Provincial Court, Harradence read an excerpt from the pre-sentence report which states Ferris acknowledges responsibility for his criminal activities and that they’ve ruined his life.

“Trent says he would feel nervous if he was placed on a court order if released from custody because he does not know how to control himself in public,” Harradence said.

Harradence went on to read Ferris expressed excitement about going to the penitentiary, so he can take part in programming, and “get bigger,” because he enjoys lifting weights.

While acknowledging pre-sentence can be based on “hearsay,” Harradence said the interview shows a degree of intelligence and insight by Ferris but also revealed a limited understanding of what needs to happen for him to improve his life.

“It’s not about lifting weights Mr. Ferris. It’s about you overcoming your addictions so you don’t put yourself and society in a similar situation in the future,” he said. “And quite frankly Mr. Ferris, I wouldn’t be excited about going to a federal penitentiary.”

Prior to passing final sentence, Harradence again reiterated his concerns with the joint-submission and whether it was contrary to the public interest. He explained judges have discretion on whether to accept a joint submission, but added the reasons should be only if the circumstances are “unhinged” and would lead a reasonable and informed person to believe a breakdown of the judicial system.

“Although counsel has caused me to pause here and caused me to reflect on this joint submission, I cannot conclude that the joint submission is not unreasonable as to be unhinged,” he said.

In addition to the six-year prison sentence, Ferris will also be subject to a two-year driving prohibition upon release from custody, and a lifetime ban on owning or possessing firearms.

Ferris has also been ordered to pay back restitution totalling nearly $8,500. In addition to the robberies, Ferris was also convicted in connection to a vehicle theft in the Saskatoon area from Oct. 28, 2019. Harradence gave him 10 years to pay back the amount.

Ferris is well-known to police. In July, 2017, he was arrested in Edmonton following a fatal collision. At the time he was listed on the Prince Albert Police’s ‘Most Wanted’ website for fraud, possession of stolen property and failing to attend court.

According to Edmonton Police, the incident involved a stolen vehicle colliding with a truck, while fleeing from police. The male driver of the truck was killed, and a female passenger later succumbed to her injuries in hospital.

Ferris, allegedly one of the occupants of the stolen vehicle, was arrested and charged with possession of stolen property over $5,000 and assaulting a peace officer.

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nigel.maxwell@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell