Teen pleads guilty to setting off flare in North Sydney Walmart

Store was closed for two weeks

A 17-year-old Northside male has pleaded guilty to charges relating to firing off a flare inside a retail store.

The youth, whose name in banned from publication in accordance with the Youth Criminal Justice Act, pleaded guilty to charges of mischief over $5,000, being a common nuisance by discharging a flare and two counts of breaching court orders.

He was charged with setting off the flare inside the North Sydney Walmart store, which closed down the facility for two weeks in November.

At the time, a Walmart spokesperson told the Cape Breton Post damage to inventory in the store was “in the millions” and all inventory was removed and the entire store cleaned. Employees at the store were paid during the closure and some were assigned duties at the chain retail giant’s other locations in the Sydney area.

Defence lawyer Shannon Mason requested her client be referred to the restorative justice program for sentence but Crown prosecutor Steve Drake opposed such a move.

Judge Ann Marie MacInnes is now scheduled to hear submissions on the issue Monday. Sentencing for the youth is scheduled for March 7.

Restorative justice programs bring all sides together to discuss what occurred and how best an offender can make amends. Eight teens have been charged in connection with the release of flares at the Walmart and Memorial High School in Sydney Mines, which was also closed down for two days in November.

None of the other accused have yet to enter pleas to similar charges of mischief.

The flares are believed to have been taken from an abandoned commercial building in North Sydney. Cape Breton Regional Police have since cleared that property of any other flares.

The youth continues his release on conditions.