TRURO, N.S. – He didn’t personally wield a weapon but a Truro man who otherwise participated in “violent” home invasion was sentenced Thursday to two years in a federal prison.
“This was a violent home invasion that involved weapons,” provincial court Judge Al Bégin said, during the sentencing of Dylan Alexander MacKinnon, 20, of Dominion Avenue.
MacKinnon had earlier pled guilty to the offence which occurred in the early morning hours on Jan. 27, 2017, when he and two accomplices barged into their victim’s apartment with the aim of collecting a $70 cocaine debt.
One of the intruders held a replica gun to the victim’s head while another held a box cutter knife to his throat.
“Mr. MacKinnon was not holding the gun nor the knife but he knew that the other individuals had these weapons and intended to use them before entering the apartment with them, because he had apparently expressed concern about these weapons being used in a home invasion,” Bégin said. “So instead of walking away from the situation, Mr. MacKinnon remained a willing participant and took part in a violent robbery.”
One of the intruders, who was masked, has not been identified and was not charged. The other individual, Austin Garrett, previously also received a two-year prison sentence.
The three intruders fled when the victim dialled 911. Although they did not get any cash, they did take the victim’s Xbox, which was valued at $340.
Bégin told MacKinnon that if a real gun had been used during the robbery, he would have been looking at a minimum five-year sentence.
And while no victim impact statement was filed with the court, the judge said he “cannot imagine that this incident did not have a significant impact” on him.
When he is released from prison, MacKinnon must serve a two-year probation period during which he must refrain from alcohol and illicit drugs, including marijuana.
“It will be legal soon,” Bégin said, of the pending cannabis legislation, “but it won’t be for you.”
Other probation conditions include being banned from possessing firearms or weapons after his release and he must take counselling for mental health issues, grief management and life skills/educational advancement.
