‘Vigilante justice’

Judge chastises — then sentences — pair for assaulting drug dealer as a form of payback

A judge lashed out at a drug addict for resorting to “vigilante justice’’ in retaliation to a potentially fatal drug purchase.

Chief Provincial Court Judge Nancy Orr told Aaron Mark MacLeod, 36, of Charlottetown that he made a bad situation worse by trying to get back at a drug dealer after MacLeod overdosed in February on Fentanyl — a drug Orr termed extremely dangerous.

“One of the great concerns is you never know what you are getting,’’ said Orr.

“You took a risk buying those drugs. You got a lot more than you were bargaining for.’’ MacLeod overdosed after unwittingly purchasing Fentanyl, believing he was buying a different drug, from Justin Brown of Cornwall. He later returned with friend Todd Vineham, 37, of Charlottetown to Brown’s home and assaulted the man. Orr sentenced MacLeod to three months in jail and ordered him placed under probation for 18 months for his part in the assault.

She also told MacLeod, who was on the methadone program when he went to Brown to purchase drugs, that he must address his addiction.

“I realize I have an issue with drugs,’’ MacLeod told the court. Vineham was sentenced to 60 days and given 18 months on probation shortly before Orr turned her attention to MacLeod. Neither MacLeod nor Vineham had any prior criminal record.