Prince Albert Correctional Centre. (File photo/ paNOW Staff)

By Nigel Maxwell

Corrections

Man sentenced for involvement in jail protest

Oct 27, 2021 | 2:00 PM

One of four men charged after an incident last year at the Prince Albert Correctional Centre has received a 60 day jail sentence.

Henry Naytowhow, 32, entered a guilty plea to a single count of mischief. He admitted to securing the doors in his unit with bedsheets, essentially preventing outside outside staff from being able to enter.

The incident happened on March 11, 2020. According to the statement of facts read in court by Crown Prosecutor Kristen Hubbard, inmates who felt they were being mistreated, staged a protest.

In addition to the doors being blocked, security cameras were also covered. Police were notified after staff expressed fear about a “volatile situation” and while they were not being forcibly confined, were still reluctant to leave their work area.

Talks with negotiators lasted three hours and no one was hurt. At the conclusion of the incident, the involved inmates cleaned up the mess they made.

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Three others have been sentenced, ranging from 45 days to four months. While Naytowhow’s involvement was considered on the lower end, the Crown was still asking for a longer sentence, based on his lengthy criminal record which includes six convictions for mischief.

“It could have been a much worse situation,” Hubbard said.

Naytowhow’s legal aid lawyer, Julia Quigley, argued her client’s punishment following the incident should be included in sentencing. In addition to losing his phone privileges for 10 days, Naytowhow was also in segregation for 15 days.

Quigley also explained that while the small items taken from the inmates may not seem like much to the general public, it is a big deal for the inmates who don’t have much.

When given the opportunity to speak in court, Naytowhow apologized for his actions.

“It won’t happen again. I’m sorry,” he said.

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nigel.maxwell@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell