Sinton gets five-year prison sentence

TRURO - A North River man who was the subject of a manhunt has been sentenced to up to five years on several charges predating last fall, including 36 months for domestic charges.

Michael Roland Sinton, 27, of Upper Brookside Road, appeared by video at Truro Provincial Court on May 10.

He was given several consecutive custody sentences related to charges from between February 2019 and January 2020 – totalling up to 36 months for five assault charges.

He also has a two-year driving prohibition and 30 days custody concurrent for having a blood alcohol concentration past the legal limit and for operating a motor vehicle in a dangerous manner.

Judge Al Bégin said that 36 months was notably high compared to other domestic sentencings in Nova Scotia.

He was also sentenced for entering the Truro Horsemen’s Club liquor establishment with the intent to commit an offence, in January 2019, to two years federal custody (180 days of times on remand).

He is to pay $990 to the club on a standalone restitution order, related to beer theft and broken glass of the club's entry doors.

More jail time is expected. Sinton is to appear on

July 12 for trial on several charges related to incidents throughout the fall of 2021, leading up to and during the manhunt. These include multiple breaches of his release order, including possessing weapons, possessing alcohol, and not remaining with his surety. He is also alleged to have broken a no contact order, uttering a death threat, and committing assault.

At the time, RCMP issued a public notice about the arrest warrant, stating he was making threats to harm himself and a woman, and was thought to be on the lam in the woods with a firearm and an ATV.

He is on a mandatory DNA order.

Sinton was arrested in Ontario last January and returned to Colchester County District RCMP.