WESTLOCK – A Westlock teenager involved in the vandalism of Westlock Elementary School (WES) in early June, will spend the next 18 months under a probation order and perform community-service hours.
In Westlock Court of Justice Aug. 9, the 16-year-old boy pleaded guilty to uttering threats, mischief and simple assault, while a handful of unspecified charges were withdrawn by Crown prosecutor Ashlee Kirby.
Ultimately, Justice Carrie-Ann Downey accepted a joint-sentence submission from Kirby and defence lawyer Richard Forbes on an 18-month conditional discharge for the youth that will include probation with a host of conditions, including an apology letter to the woman he threatened and six months under a 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. curfew, plus 60 hours of community services. As per the Youth Criminal Justice Act, a publication ban bars any reporting that could identify the boy.
Forbes said the teen, whose father was also in the courtroom during sentencing, is aiming to finish high school and noted the probation order won’t end until he’s an adult.
Justice Downey called the joint sentence “appropriate” and wished the youth good luck, while reminding him to strictly follow the conditions of the sentence. A can of bear spray, as well as all other items seized by police, were forfeit to the Crown.
“The conditions here are fairly significant. Do you understand them and understand that you need to comply by them and if you breach them, you could be charged with a further criminal offence? So, do I have your word that you’re actually going to follow the terms of the order?” Justice Downey asked the teen.
“Yeah,” he replied.
The crimes
Kirby told court that on May 10, 2023, a Westlock RCMP officer received a complaint from a woman that two young men had knocked on her door looking for “Logan.”
The woman and her husband repeatedly told the boys that no one by that name lived there and asked them to leave at which point the youth backed away, then brandished a knife and told them, “We will be back.”
Further, at 11:32 p.m., June 3, 2023, Westlock RCMP were dispatched to a break-and-enter in progress at WES and as they pulled up “approximately seven youth were seen running from the school to the football field and dispersed.”
Inside the school, Kirby said there was damage to the library and some items were thrown down the hallways, while a window, where they had gained entry, was also damaged and some food was stolen from the staff room.
Kirby said that RCMP were able to identify the youth via security footage “as well as talking to some of the co-accused.”
“And (name redacted) was one of the youth,” added Forbes.
