The man who carried a loaded shotgun in a home invasion in Reidville last fall was sentenced to five years in prison Thursday.
Ricky Leslie Halfyard, 29, is one of four people who were charged in relation to the Oct. 8 incident.
He was set to go on trial on six charges in provincial court in Corner Brook this week, but the trial was not needed after Halfyard decided to enter guilty pleas to three of the offences Wednesday. The guilty pleas were entered on the charges of break and entry with intent to commit an indictable offence, using a firearm during the commission of an offence and using a firearm to commit robbery.
In a statement of facts agreed to by both Crown prosecutor Lori St. Croix and defence lawyer Stephen Orr, Judge Catherine Allen-Westby heard Halfyard went to the victim’s home because he was owed $250 for drugs.
The man who owed Halfyard money wasn’t the only person in the home at the time. The man’s mother, her husband and the victim’s two sisters were also at home.
The incident, which included two disguised men entering the home, lasted only about three or four minutes. Halfyard admitted to carrying a loaded shotgun and kicking in a door to gain access to the house.
The court heard Halfyard quickly left the house after the victim suspected it was him and called Halfyard by name.
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The court also heard one of the man’s sisters also recognized Halfyard’s voice during the incident.
Noting that the offences to which Halfyard pleaded guilty, namely using a firearm to rob someone, called for a mandatory minimum of four years imprisonment, St. Croix asked for a sentence in the range of 5 ½ to 6 ½ years.
Orr asked for the minimum of four years.
Allen-Westby, who took one day to consider her decision on sentencing, decided on five years. She emphasized the aggravating circumstances of the gun being loaded, Halfyard being disguised during the invasion of a home and, although there was no physical violence to any of the victims, the threat of violence and the property damage to the door that was kicked in.
The judge also noted the victims, through victim impact statements filed with the court, still have a fear for their safety both at home and elsewhere since the incident.
Halfyard’s criminal record, which includes prior convictions for property offences, was also a factor against him when the judge considered the sentence.
Halfyard has been in custody since his arrest shortly after the home invasion. He was given 270 days credit for the six months served prior to being sentenced.
In addition to the prison term, Allen-Westby ordered Halfyard to provide authorities with a sample of his DNA, subjected him to a 20-year firearms prohibition and ordered him to pay a total of $600 in victim fine surcharges and $424 in restitution to pay for the door he damaged during the home invasion.
The three other men charged in relation to the home invasion still have their matters before the courts. Tanner Healey has entered guilty pleas and will have a sentencing hearing April 19.
Jared Healey has not yet entered pleas and will be back in court on Tuesday.
Contrary to what was reported in The Western Star earlier this week, the fourth man, Dylan Joseph Ryan, has also not yet entered pleas. Ryan has elected to be tried by judge alone in Newfoundland and Labrador Supreme Court and has a preliminary inquiry scheduled for provincial court on July 6 to see if he will be committed to stand trial.
The Western Star apologizes for inaccurately reporting that Ryan had entered not guilty pleas.
