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Guilty plea earns robber a lighter sentence

A first offender’s early guilty plea has helped shave a year off his sentence for armed robbery.

A first offender’s early guilty plea has helped shave a year off his sentence for armed robbery.

John Daylan Saddleback of Hobbema has remained in custody since his arrest for an armed robbery at a Red Deer gas station and convenience store on July 10.

Saddleback, 21, pleaded guilty to one charge of robbery and two counts of breaching release conditions in Red Deer provincial court on Thursday.

Court heard that Saddleback entered the East Hill Fas Gas, handed the clerk a note and then lifted his shirt to show a large knife. He fled the store with less than $100 in cash and some cigarettes.

Crown prosecutor Jillian Brown described the offence as spontaneous and opportunistic, stating that the note was written on a page torn from a calendar.

Judge Gordon Deck accepted a joint sentencing submission from Brown and defence counsel Glen Allen, sentencing Saddleback to two years. Deck commented that the starting point for robbing convenience stores is three years because of the serious nature of crimes against people working in stores who are often on their own. He agreed with Brown and Allen that the guilty plea should be a factor in lightening the sentence.

He gave Saddleback credit for two months served in pre-trial custody. He ordered that the man submit a DNA sample for the national database and prohibited him from owning all weapons for 10 years after his release. He is banned for life from owning restricted or prohibited weapons.