No jail for Hillsborough Hospital disturbance

A P.E.I. man who was yelling at Hillsborough Hospital staff and giving them the middle finger was recently given a suspended sentence.

John Brandon Bernard, 23, appeared before Chief Judge Jeff Lantz in provincial court in Charlottetown where he pleaded guilty to causing a disturbance.

Crown attorney Jeff MacDonald told the court that on

Oct. 22, the police were called to the Hillsborough Hospital about a suspicious male who was wearing what appeared to be army fatigues.

Staff at the hospital reported seeing Bernard take a gun case from a vehicle.

MacDonald said the weapon in the case was a pellet gun and had a trigger lock on it.

During his court appearance, Bernard was again wearing camouflage clothing, including a vest with the words “Satan sends his regards” on the back.

After hearing the Crown’s submissions, defence lawyer Alex Dalton told the court that on the day of the disturbance, Bernard was at the Hillsborough Hospital helping a friend to get admitted.

Dalton also said Bernard had a lot of underlying mental health issues.

As part of MacDonald’s submissions, he recommended probation and a weapons ban, including a prohibition on possessing air-powered guns.

After that recommendation, Bernard told his lawyer in a raised voice loud enough for everyone in the courtroom to hear him that he was a responsible gun owner, a hunter and he didn’t want a weapons ban.

In giving Bernard a suspended sentence, Lantz placed him on probation for one year but didn’t impose a weapons prohibition.

Lantz said it didn’t appear Bernard was using the pellet gun to intimidate anyone.

Even though he didn’t impose a ban, Lantz warned Bernard that if there are any issues around violence in the future, he could lose his weapons.

Bernard must also write an apology letter to hospital staff.