A Spruce Grove man who walked into a Deer Ridge resident’s garage and stole their vehicle while brandishing a weapon was sentenced this week to more than two years in federal prison for the robbery and other charges.
On June 13, Judge V.H. Myers sentenced Bo Blackwood, 27, of Spruce Grove to a total of 895 days in prison, a two-year driving prohibition, a lifetime firearm ban, and a victim restitution fine of $832.97.
The sentence, delivered at St. Albert Provincial Court, was a joint submission by Crown prosecutor Crystal Robertson and defence lawyer Cody Ackland.
Blackwood pleaded guilty to a series of charges, including one count of robbery — the major charge in a series of charges that have come in, said Myers.
The agreed statement of facts for the robbery was not read in court, however, according to police reports, on Jan. 28, 2021, at about 7:15 a.m. RCMP responded to a break and enter in the Deer Ridge subdivision. A homeowner had discovered an unknown male “rifling through cabinets.” The male saw the homeowner and threatened them with an object, demanded the keys to the homeowner’s car, and “fled the scene in the homeowner’s vehicle,” RCMP had said in a statement.
RCMP forensic identification services, RCMP digital forensic services, St. Albert's general investigation section, St. Albert's general duty, and in collaboration with Edmonton Police Service, identified Blackwood, who was arrested in August 2021.
Robertson said in court Monday that aggravating and mitigating factors must be considered, as there is no starting point for sentencing when it comes to personal robbery.
Robertson said the robbery on Jan. 28, 2021, was unsophisticated. It seemed to be a crime of opportunity as the victim was unknown to Blackwood, court heard. According to the victim, Blackwood entered an open garage on a cold day, was not dressed for the weather, and seemed intoxicated.
The homeowner was not sure what the weapon was that Blackwood seized when he asked for keys to the car.
The robbery was a violation of personal safety and people have a right to feel safe in their homes, said Robertson.
The vehicle Blackwood stole was impounded, and police found a white residue inside and deemed it a biohazard. It was the homeowner’s only vehicle and it needed to be replaced.
Blackwood took the keys to the car, which included a garage opener and house keys. Blackwood also took a lithium-ion battery that was charging, court heard.
Robertson requested Blackwood pay $832.97 in restitution charges to cover the cost of changing the locks, the garage-door opener, the lithium-ion battery, a silver box chain, and a pair of Coach sunglasses.
The agreed statement of facts for Blackwood’s other charges was read into court by Robertson on Monday.
On Nov. 6, 2021, at 10:45 p.m. a man parked his Dodge Dakota in front of a Husky in Edmonton with the keys in the ignition and went inside. When the man returned the vehicle was gone.
At about 3 a.m. on Nov. 7, police saw the vehicle about a six-minute drive away from the Husky. Police determined it was the stolen vehicle. Blackwood was apprehended. When he was searched police found multiple identification cards — including passports — that did not belong to him. He was arrested and charged.
Blackwood pleaded guilty to the operation of a motor vehicle while prohibited, theft of a motor vehicle, and possession of identity documents.
On Nov. 9, 2021, at 12:19 a.m., police pulled over a maroon Chevrolet Astro. Blackwood was identified as the driver, and police found he was in violation of his release orders. Blackwood was arrested.
Blackwood pleaded guilty to three other charges. On Dec. 7, 2021, Blackwood failed to appear in Edmonton docket court without a lawful excuse. He failed to appear in court on Dec. 15, 2021. He also failed to attend fingerprinting on Feb. 9, 2022.
Robertson said the guilty pleas, globalization of the charges, and waiving the right to what would be a multi-day trial, were incredibly mitigating factors.
Aggravating factors included his record of driving while disqualified.
A victim statement was given to the court, but not read aloud.
Ackland said Blackwood has been devasted by his drug use for the last eight years and has been homeless off and on for the last five years. He has been looking for treatment, but with his pending charges, no treatment facility would accept him.
“He wanted to make things right as best he could,” said Ackland.
Myers asked Blackwood if he had a response to the victim statement.
“She doesn’t have anything to worry about,” he said.
Blackwood said he was cold, and he needed somewhere warm that morning. He saw the tools and thought about selling them for drugs. He then needed a way to get back to the city.
“I was scared. I needed to get out of there,” he said.
Blackwood apologized.
