A teenage boy appeared by phone Friday for his sentencing hearing Friday at Prince Albert Provincial Court. (Nigel Maxwell/ paNOW Staff)

By Nigel Maxwell

Court proceedings

‘He said ‘we can kill you and it doesn’t mean anything to us’: Prince Albert catering van robbery results in jail sentences

Mar 17, 2023 | 5:11 PM

A Prince Albert youth involved in an early morning robbery has received a sentence of 7.5 months jail, to be followed by a month and a half in the community and six months probation.

The youth, who was 15 years old at the time of the offence last May, must also pay $1,000 in restitution.

According to facts read Friday morning at Prince Albert Provincial Court by Crown Prosecutor Cam Scott, the victim of the robbery was the owner of a local catering company who had been unloading his van when approached by four strangers.

An adult male, Lionel Charles, stood in front of the victim, while the youth, holding a broken wine glass and a knife, approached the victim from behind.

“”I’ll cut your throat,” the youth told the victim, according to Scott.

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After taking the keys to the van, and warning the victim again to stay where he was or be killed, the four individuals drove off. They only made it as far as the Midtown Hall area where they crashed into a fence.

Police arrived soon after and both the man and the male youth were arrested. Lionel Charles was sentenced last July and received 450 days (14 months) for his role.

Scott noted the youth has no criminal record and suffers from significant Gladue factors.

Defense lawyer Chris Gratton was able to elaborate, explaining the boy suffered physical abuse at the hands of his mother, and prior to the incident, was also introduced to meth by his mother.

Graton also explained that while the youth was taking responsibility, he also claimed it was Charles who was the leader and he was under pressure to follow along.

When given the opportunity to speak, the boy apologized. A family member who was also present in court presented a plan to the judge to pay the restitution by way of having the youth work for him doing various labour related jobs such as roofing and carpentry.

Turning to the youth, Judge S. Schiefner described the facts as horrifying.

“You can imagine how you would feel if someone did that to you,” he said.

Noting the youth’s reasons for what happened, and the youth’s tough upbringing, Schiefner also told him it was still his responsibility.

“You got yourself in trouble,” he said.

Also noting the boy’s closest friends are gang members, Schiefner encouraged him to make better choices, and hang around with more positive influences. Schiefner also reminded the youth had he been an adult, he would likely have been facing prison time.

While this matter has been resolved, the youth still has one more very serious charge before the courts.

The youth was one of two people charged with the murder of Barry Pruden. In early June, 2022, Pruden was attacked and stabbed along Prince Albert’s riverbank.

The two incidents were just over a week apart.

Response from the victim

According to discussion heard in court, the victim was quite shaken up and suffered a loss in money. Speaking to paNOW on the condition of anonymity, the victim explained he is now always looking over his shoulder.

“It really opened my eyes because I’ve never ever been subject to something like that,” he said.

Reflecting back on the incident and acknowledging he was very fortunate not to have been physically injured, the owner explained it was the youth he was most worried about.

“He said ‘we can kill you and it doesn’t mean anything to us. You’re nothing,'” the owner recalled. “I was hoping my guardian angel was working overtime.”

Noting how he was able to talk his way out of the incident, the owner explained he even joked with the people who took his keys.

“I said well if you take it, make sure you total it off, and he looked at me and he said you can count on that,” he said.

Estimating the whole incident cost him between $4,000 and $5,000 in damages and insurance costs, the owner explained he has since changed some of his practices including not unloading alone and being more selective with respect to where he unloads.

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nigel.maxwell@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell