A young man who acted in a “cowardly” manner in the stomping attack and robbery of a young Lacombe man is headed to jail.
Brian Travis Ward, 21, was sentenced to two years in jail during a sentence hearing in Red Deer provincial court. He was credited with two months in pre-trial custody, leaving him 22 months to serve.
Ward pleaded guilty earlier this fall to robbery. Sentencing had been adjourned for a pre-sentence report.
Ward was one of several young people who on July 17, 2010, savagely beat and stomped a 19-year-old at a Lacombe park. The attack was videotaped by one of the accused.
The 90-second video was shown twice to the court.
It shows three people dragging the victim out of a vehicle.
Then they punch and kick the victim, who falls to the ground.
After more kicking, Ward, who is seen lurking in the foreground, rushes in and kicks or knees the victim to the head and torso about 15 times, Crown prosecutor Maurice Collard said.
Collard said Ward would have received a three-year sentence if not for the guilty plea.
The accused “acted cowardly gratuitously and violently. He waited until three other people had kicked and stomped on the victim.
“This type of heinous crime is something our community doesn’t want,” Collard added.
Defence lawyer Michael Scrase said the victim was known to his assailants.
He said the beating was triggered by an alleged threat made to the pregnant girlfriend of one of the assailants.
Scrase said the victim suffered minor injuries and was at work within a day or two.
Carl Wesley Johnson, 19, and Travis James Kastrukoff, 22, both of Lacombe, will also stand trial on Dec. 5 in Red Deer Court of Queen’s Bench.
Both are charged with assault causing bodily harm and robbery.
Earlier this fall, an 18-year-old Lacombe girl was given a nine-month suspended sentence and ordered to perform 100 hours of community service when she pleaded guilty to obstruction for her role.
She was observed driving a vehicle away from the park following the beating. The car carried the assailants.
She had been charged with robbery but changed her plea just before her trial was set to begin.
She was 17 at the time and can’t be named under terms of the Youth Criminal Justice Act.
Also earlier this year, Andrew Dennis Renaud, 19, of Lacombe was sentenced to 17 months in jail in addition to the five months he had already served in custody for his role in the attack.
Renaud pleaded guilty to robbery but received consideration for taking an active role to halt the beating.
jwilson@www.reddeeradvocate.com