Inverness man’s release revoked

John Travis MacKinnon had been serving a 43-month sentence for attempted robbery

An Inverness man with a violent history and extensive criminal record has had his statutory release revoked again by the Parole Board of Canada.

In a report issued Wednesday by the parole board, John Travis MacKinnon has been found to present an “undue risk to society” because of his behaviour in prison and his tumultuous time spent at a halfway house since his statutory release on March 23.

“You were described as ‘argumentative, resistant and overall uncooperative to follow through on direction,’” said the parole board citing a report from the halfway house where MacKinnon was living at the time.

The 26-year-old had been serving a 43-month federal prison sentence after pleading guilty to the attempted robbery of a Sydney convenience store on Oct. 31, 2012.

This was MacKinnon’s second statutory release.

MacKinnon was staying at the halfway house at the time of the attempted robbery.

He was out of a federal jail for only a month after serving nearly five years in connection with the death of 71-year-old Inverness resident Ivan Rorison.

Rorison died from internal injuries after he was assaulted in his home by a group of teens in June 2008.

Five other people accused in the Rorison case also received jail sentences.

The parole board report said MacKinnon failed to meet with a psychiatrist beyond the first two meetings despite the mental health issues he faced and medication he was being prescribed. The board also noted his unresolved anger issues.

“On the weekend you were suspended, your behaviour escalated with you swearing, becoming verbally aggressive and challenging staff at the community residential facility,” the board wrote.

“You punched a hole through the wall outside the office door. A warrant was issued and executed on April 23, 2016.”

The parole board said MacKinnon’s halfway house, formally called a community residential facility, recommended he take advantage of programs and interventions in prison to better prepare for his next release.

A psychological assessment in September indicated MacKinnon was at a moderate risk to reoffend and at a high risk to reoffend violently.

“The psychologist stated you need a supported, structured and stable environment where you will have ready access to supports, including mental health supports, when released to the community.”

Even though the parole board said “some gains” were made by MacKinnon for attending counselling programs, he received “numerous” segregation placements.

Violent acts included one incident in February when MacKinnon armed himself with a “spear” and threatened to stab anyone who entered his cell, the parole board stated.

MacKinnon will be legally entitled to another period of statutory release after serving two-thirds of the remainder of his sentence.