The Chronicle Herald (Provincial)
Killer’s parole revoked after gun find
A convicted Halifax killer whose parole documents were found in a bag with a loaded .45-calibre pistol last summer told authorities he left the paperwork in a bar while he slipped out to shoot a music video.
But they revoked Carvel Antonio Clayton’s parole anyway, pointing out he took days to turn himself in, while social media accounts showed the aspiring rap artist partying with friends and wearing expensive shoes he couldn’t afford.
“Following your arrest, a post-suspension interview was held and you described the events leading to your suspension as a series of unfortunate accidents,” the parole board said in its most recent decision on Clayton, who is in his mid-20s.
“According to the assessment for decision, you left your parole paperwork and identification at a local bar while you went to shoot a music video. The owner of the bar reportedly gave your documents to someone whom they believed knew you and that is how they ended up in the vehicle with the firearms.”
A police search of a white BMW on July 31 — after a Mic Mac Mall security guard reported a gun deal going down in the mall’s parking lot before dawn that day — turned up a loaded silver .357 Magnum, a bag that contained a loaded .22-calibre gun and 24 grams of cocaine, and a loaded .45-calibre pistol with the serial number carved out. The last was the gun found in a bag with Clayton’s paperwork.
While he wasn’t found with the car, police labeled Clayton “a person of interest” in relation to the BMW on the same day it was seized.
“Inside the vehicle, a bag with firearms and your ID, full parole certificate and your parole officer’s information was found,” said Clayton’s parole decision.
“You were being actively sought for questioning and, as such, a warrant for your suspension and apprehension was issued on that day. Video surveillance shows you in the company of another individual on conditional release who was later charged with a firearm offence stemming from that evening. You did not report your association with this person to your parole officer.”
Clayton denied being in possession of the .45, and told the parole board he doesn’t associate with the man who took his paperwork from the bar when he left to shoot a music video.
When Clayton spoke with his parole officer on Aug. 3, she told him he was wanted by police, said the decision.
“You stated you would turn yourself in but did not do so until August 5, 2021. The assessment for decision indicates that social media accounts showed you celebrating your birthday and that you were also sitting at a table that was filled with alcoholic drinks. There (were) also questions regarding expensive shoes that you were wearing and how you could afford them given your limited income. You stated that family and friends were helping you and that you needed to maintain a certain image, as you are involved in the music industry.”
One of the conditions of Clayton’s parole was that he stay away from booze. “In relation to the social media post of yourself at a table filled with alcohol, you stated that it was a prop for the music video. You say that you did not turn yourself in immediately as it was your birthday and a close family member had passed away that day.”
A judge sentenced Clayton to seven years and 137 days in prison in 2019 for the manslaughter of Shakur Jefferies just over five years ago in a Halifax parking lot with an antique .45-calibre pistol.
“You and the victim engaged in an altercation involving vehicles. When you alerted your friends to the situation, one of them brought you a gun. In a parking lot, the victim rushed towards you and you shot him. At sentencing, the judge ordered a DNA order, a forfeiture order, and a lifetime weapons prohibition order.”
The victim’s family suffered serious harm due to the killing, said the parole board. “The victims of your offence lost a loved one and they note the emotional harm and turmoil that impacts their ability to move forward.”
Clayton was granted day parole on Christmas Eve of 2020, with full parole to follow after six months on July 18.
That was suspended after he was determined to be “unlawfully at large and appeared to be in breach of several special conditions,” said the parole board.
Clayton, who also has a conviction for assault causing bodily harm, experienced a positive upbringing, said the parole decision.
“Your level of accountability is rated as high while your level of motivation has decreased from high to moderate. Your reintegration potential remains rated as moderate. You are not considered to be engaged in your correctional plan.”
Clayton appears “to be comfortable in the presence of persons involved in a criminal lifestyle despite your limited criminal history,” said his parole decision.
PROBLEMS WITH TRANSPARENCY
The Correctional Service of Canada “notes that you were in breach of your special condition regarding alcohol and for associating with persons involved in criminal activity,” said the decision.
“CSC does not believe that you were open and transparent with your case management team while on full parole. As a result, they do not believe your risk to be manageable in the community.”
When he does get parole again, Clayton’s jailers are recommending he be ordered to stay away from alcohol and known criminals again. When that happens, the Correctional Service of Canada says Clayton should live in a halfway house and observe a curfew between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m.
Clayton told the parole board he’s made progress since he was initially released from prison.
“You stated that you maintained employment, completed (integrated correctional program model) maintenance, followed the rules of the halfway house when you lived there, cared for your family and pursued your music career,” said the parole decision.
“You advised that other than the current circumstances, you had no issues that resulted in police intervention. The board noted that file information indicated that DNA on the weapon involved in the circumstances of the suspension was sent for analysis but results were not yet available and charges could be pending.”
Clayton told the parole board he doesn’t “anticipate any issues with the result,” said the decision.
“You acknowledged that you were in a situation where there was alcohol. You stated that you had rented a nightclub as the site of a music video shoot and there were alcoholic beverages on the table that were there as props for the shoot. You stated that you did not consume or possess the alcohol.”
When asked about associating with known criminals, Clayton told the parole board the person who took his paperwork from the bar before it was discovered in a bag with a loaded gun was a stranger to him.
“You stated that you did not know this person and when you were advised that they had your parole certificate and identification, you proceeded to their residence at 5 a.m. to retrieve your belongings. You stated that the fact that your papers were in the bag with a weapon was coincidental as you did not know this person.”
When asked about another criminal he was spotted with that morning, Clayton told the parole board that he wasn’t in that person’s company, and that it was just a coincidence he was at the same address at the same time. “You were adamant that you did not have any involvement with the weapon, you did not know the person who had your identification and it was by chance that you were at the building of the person who had your identification at the same time as the second associate.”
His parole officer “noted that the second associate, with whom you claimed to have had coincidentally met at 5 a.m. was a person who was in your company throughout the day as they had been involved in the video shoot. Your parole officer pointed out your lack of transparency.”
Clayton told the parole board he is not minimizing his behaviour.
‘APOLOGIZED FOR NOT ALWAYS BEING HONEST’
“You stated that you accept responsibility for your behaviour and you apologized for not always being honest and you stated that you will put forth more effort.”
The parole board said it puts no weight on information that Clayton may have had a weapon in his possession.
“This matter will be clarified once the police receive the results of the analysis. The board also accepts your explanation that you did not consume or possess alcohol. It is reasonable to believe that if you were doing a video shoot in a nightclub that alcoholic beverages could be props.”
Instead, it was his choice of criminal associates that cost Clayton his freedom.
‘AN UNDUE RISK TO SOCIETY’
Since Clayton returned to prison, there’s no indication that risk has reduced “in any significant manner,” said the board.
“Even with more stringent conditions, your risk (in the community) is not manageable as you have not demonstrated sufficient motivation to make changes and it is likely that you will continue to face challenges. Based on your behaviour during full parole, the board is satisfied that you will, by reoffending before the expiration of your sentence according to law, present an undue risk to society.”