A Prince George man was sentenced Tuesday to seven years in prison for his role in a home invasion that saw an elderly woman bound and gagged with duct tape.
Dillon Benjamin Ertmoed, 24, received credit for 16 1/2 months time served prior to sentencing, which means he has a further five years and 7 1/2 months left to serve.
Ertmoed's partner in the August 2012 incident, Dohn William Schmidt, was sentenced in May 2013 to four years in prison.
In reaching his decision to giving Ertmoed more jail time, B.C. Supreme Court Justice Ron Tindale found there were significant differences between the two cases.
In contrast to Ertmoed, Schmidt pleaded guilty and key evidence against Schmidt was seized during a warrantless search, which raised issues under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
Ertmoed was found guilty in September largely on the basis of DNA from two pop bottles and a cigarette butt found at the scene.
Tindale found Ertmoed and Schmidt had gone into the South Ogilvie home with the sole purpose of stealing three restricted handguns and, in the process, put a 62-year-old woman through a 30 minute ordeal that began when her face was briefly covered with a pillow. Her wrists, ankles and mouth were then duct taped as the culprits rifled through her home.
They eventually made off with the pistols, as well as her car, a home entertainment system with a large-screen television and her deceased husband's wedding ring, which has not been recovered.
Ertmoed had a history of trouble with drug use and, in the months leading up to the incident, began using crystal methamphetamine.
He did not have a criminal record at the time but did accumulate one in the days that followed, including committing a smash and grab at a local jewelry store, for which he was sentenced to 27 months in jail.
Ertmoed appeared resigned to his fate and sat quietly through the hearing before he was led away to begin his sentence.
