Youth sentenced for Gateway School incident

A male youth who brandished a knife while uttering threats at a Meadow Lake elementary school in early November has been sentenced to a six-month deferred custody and supervision, and a curfew between 10 p.m. and 7 p.m.

The 14-year-old, who cannot be named under provisions of the Youth Criminal Justice Act, brandished a knife at Gateway Elementary School at around 10 a.m. on Thursday, Nov. 2, then soon after fled the premises, which resulted in all Meadow Lake schools being placed on a hold and secure around 11 a.m. He was arrested less than an hour later.

The youth appeared in Meadow Lake court today via video feed in Regina, where he is currently under supervision at a residential unit.

Crown Prosecutor Andrew Clements pursued the aforementioned sentence in conjunction with other charges the youth had from two separate incidents this past summer, which included a break and enter and theft of money at a residence and joyriding in a stolen vehicle that ended up with $31,000 worth of damage.

Court heard that the youth said “someone’s going to get shanked” when he had the knife at the school, his teacher took it away and put in a desk drawer, and the youth proceeded to retrieve the knife again and then proceed throughout the school repeating the aforementioned phrase to other staff members. It was reported that he said it five or six times. The youth claimed he was joking.

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He also had a very poor attendance record at school and has been using both drugs and alcohol since he turned 13.  

Defence lawyer Blaine Beaven was asking the court for a 12 month probation order instead, given the youth’s Gladue report factors of a transient home life and difficult upbringing. He said the youth is doing well at the facility where he is currently in custody.

Judge Janet McIvor said she felt six months is actually lenient given the seriousness of the charges, but given the youth’s age and lack of criminal record prior to these three incidents, felt that the deferred custody and supervision order was fitting.

He is also ordered send an apology letter to the school by to his youth worker through Child and Family Services.

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