Federal sentence imposed

Man involved in youth centre riot handed two-year jail term

A young offender serving a sentence at the Nova Scotia Youth Correctional Facility in Waterville who was charged as an adult following a riot at the facility in 2016 has been handed a two-year federal sentence.

The 19-year-old Cole Harbour man pleaded guilty on Oct. 2 to five of seven charges against him, including two counts of include two counts of assault causing bodily harm involving youth corrections officers; using a weapon, a chair, in committing an assault on a youth corrections officer and two counts of assaulting a youth corrections officer engaged in the execution of his duty. The accused committed the offences on Sept. 4, 2016.

Judge Claudine MacDonald sentenced the man to a total of two years in custody on the five charges. The man was sentenced to two years in custody on each of the assault causing bodily harm charges, to be served con- currently; one year, to be served concurrently, for committing an assault with a weapon; and one year, to be served concurrently, on each of the assault charges.

The man was fined a total of $1,000 in victim surcharges. The court granted a DNA order and imposed a 14-year firearm prohibition against him.

Two remaining charges, taking part in a riot at the Waterville youth correctional facility and wilfully damaging the property of the youth correctional facility to a value not exceeding $5,000, were withdrawn.

The accused and three other young offenders were involved in the riot on Sept. 4, 2016. The incident unfolded over six to seven minutes and was recorded by security cameras at the facility.

Five staff members incurred injuries, including broken noses, concussions, bruising and facial injuries. One staff member suffered a cracked orbital bone while another had his teeth dislodged. Another suffered injuries to his neck and hand.