A year after he tried to steal a loaded gun safe, Earl Wade Johnson was sentenced to six months less a day to round out an almost two-year sentence.
Johnson has been in custody since that November 2013 day, when he broke into a motel room with co-accused Kevin Roy Zaporoski in an attempt to make off with the four rifles.
In September Johnson pleaded guilty to the three offences and the 47-year-old was back in provincial court Monday for his sentencing hearing on three counts: one for break and enter, one for robbery with intent to steal a firearm, and one for possession of a prohibited weapon - a Taser found in his backpack after the robbery-gone-wrong.
Court heard Zaporoski learned about the gun safe from a prostitute who frequented the owner, a man who was renting short-term accommodation at the Brother's Inn Motel on the Hart Highway.
Crown counsel Cassandra Malfair said it was no "late-night caper." At around 11:45 a.m., the two men kicked down the motel door, grabbed the gun safe and made toward Zaporoski's waiting vehicle in the parking lot.
As they lugged the safe, which held two hunting rifles, an army-style rifle and an assault-style rifle, the owner returned.
The man grabbed Zaporoski from behind and Johnson came to his friend's defence. The two fled without the safe and were found in their respective homes later that evening, thanks to images captured on surveillance.
Malfair acknowledged Johnson is remorseful, noting in Johnson's own words, it "makes my skin crawl" imagining how it must have been for the owner who came upon them, two "drugged-out maniacs."
Court heard Johnson has been a Prince George resident for 25 years and worked as a boilermaker, pipefitter and welder. He once held a six-figure income, but has been plagued by drug addiction. His criminal record shows chunks of offences offset by periods of good behaviour.
In 2002 he was charged with spousal assault and in 2007 he received a 12 month conditional sentence for a break and enter. In this time he had a "cluster of offences," said Malfair, adding the pre-sentencing report showed that period reflected his "descent into drug use."
This was Johnson's first experience in jail.
"His life deteriorated when he started using crystal meth," Malfair said.
Defense counsel Connor Carleton said Johnson's latest dive into drug abuse was triggered by his August 2013 separation from his longtime common-law spouse.
"Mr. Johnson found himself in somewhat of a depressed state," said Carleton, adding though Johnson had used hard drugs before, crystal meth was new. "This was his first true downward spiral."
Carleton said Johnson has taken rehabilitation seriously, taking what classes he can and acting as head of his unit for more than half of his time in custody.
"He has been that guy," said Carleton, adding Johnson has held jobs for long stretches and can expect employment either locally or in Alberta when he is released.
Carleton told the court Johnson's main focus upon release will be to provide a home again for his children, calling leaving them "one of his greatest shames." When he entered jail, Johnson had $30,000 in savings, but Carleton said that is gone now.
Johnson missed the high school graduation of his 18-year-old son. His 19-year-old daughter has had to pay for her university.
"I'm sincerely sorry," Johnson told the court, adding he didn't know how he could give peace of mind to the man he stole from or how he could make up for the damage done to the property and reputation of the motel.
Supreme Court Justice Ron Tindale handed Johnson just under two years for both the break and enter and robbery, with 18 months credit for time served. The Taser incurred four months, also to be served concurrently.
Johnson faces two year's probation, a 10-year ban on owning firearms and was ordered to submit DNA to the national database.
