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Brian Arcand's sentencing had been delayed multiple times. (Image Credit: File photo/ paNOW Staff)
Resolution

Man who abducted and assaulted former best friend, receives 8 year prison sentence

Sep 25, 2026 | 4:42 PM

Editor’s note: the following story contains graphic descriptions of violence.

A Prince Albert judge described a brutal attack on a man’s former best friend as an act of vigilante justice after hearing that the attacker learned his friend had been convicted of sexual assault.

Brian Arcand was sentenced Friday to eight years in prison for the September 2024 attack in the Red Wing area. With credit for time spent in custody, he has about five years left to serve.

Judge Healey said Arcand had heard his former friend had been convicted and served time for sexual assault. He also noted Arcand had consumed an excessive amount of crystal meth. The court did not establish whether Arcand knew the person involved in that earlier case or what, specifically, prompted him to attack his friend that night.

Guilty pleas were entered last year to break-and-enter, aggravated assault and confinement.

According to the agreed statement of facts, Arcand, who was 40 at the time, went to the victim’s home and knocked on the door. After receiving no response, he stood on a planter box before climbing into a bedroom window. Once inside, he confronted and assaulted the victim. 

Arcand then forced the victim to go with him, and together they drove to Arcand’s home, where he continued to beat and stab the victim until the victim was knocked unconscious. 

Several hours later, the victim awoke in a basement cellar. There was no light, and he was naked and covered in blood. The only way out was blocked by a large entertainment unit. 

“[Arcand] made it so there was a very low chance of escape or rescue,” Judge Healey said. 

Despite the challenges, and under the assumption he was going to die if he did not find a way out, the man managed to force the floor hatch open and injured himself further in the process. After putting on underwear, he fled to a neighbour’s house and asked for help. 

The residents agreed to call 9-1-1 but did not allow the man inside. Soon after, the man was located by police walking along a road. Police then waited at Arcand’s home until the following morning, when he returned, and they arrested him. 

Judge Healey described Arcand’s actions as horrifying and appalling.

“There is no excuse or justification for what you did,” he said.

In addition to five wide lacerations on his head, the victim suffered cuts to his neck and a fractured eye socket. He was also stabbed in the chest and had bruising all over his back and legs. 

According to a victim impact statement, the victim requires two more surgeries and suffers from long-term emotional trauma, reliving the attack through nightmares and flashbacks. 

Defence said that before the assault, Arcand’s mother had died and he was suffering from severe anxiety and addiction issues. Arcand argued his attack was impulsive. 

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 nigel.maxwell@pattisonmedia.com 

 On X: @nigelmaxwell