Last of four robbery accused sentenced

Glace Bay man gets two months and three weeks for string of robberies

The last of four Glace Bay men charged in relation with a string of robberies across the province entered guilty pleas Wednesday and was sentenced.

George Thomas MacIsaac, 55, of Main Street, pleaded guilty to two counts of robbery involving drug stores in Bible Hill and Antigonish. Other charges were dismissed.

Having already served nearly 10 months on remand, MacIsaac was ordered to serve an additional two months and three weeks. He is also banned from possessing firearms for life and is to submit a DNA sample to the national registry.

The court was told that MacIsaac was the driver of the vehicle used in the robberies that also targeted two convenience stores, located in Glace Bay and Sydney, and three pharmacies located in Antigonish, Bible Hill and Lower Sackville. Police allege that during the pharmacy robberies, a demand was made for prescription pills, particularly hydromorphone.

MacIsaac’s reward for participating in the crimes was a few pills. An admitted opiate addict, MacIsaac said he became addict after suffering a spine injury. He now hopes to enrol in a methadone program in a bid to curb his addiction.

The robbery spree began April 30 and ended May 20.

Another accused, Allen Herman Brown, 50, of Mechanic Street, was charged with armed robbery and using a weapon in committing an offence. He was charged in connection with the robbery in Lower Sackville.

During a provincial court appearance in November in Dartmouth, all charges against Brown were dismissed.

Another participant was previously sentenced to a fiveyear prison term while another was placed on probation for one year.