HARBOUR GRACE, NL — Candace Payne received an 893-day prison sentence in Harbour Grace this afternoon.
The 27-year-old faced charges of fraud under $5000, unlawfully committing robbery, and possession of a weapon or imitation for dangerous purposes following two separate incidents earlier in 2017. The Crown withdrew the possession charge Wednesday afternoon.
Payne was charged with robbery following an incident at an Ultramar gas station in Bay Roberts in January of 2017, where Payne held up the empty store with a knife, demanding money. The amount received was unclear, but was known to be somewhere between $100 and $300.
During the reading of the agreed statement of facts, Crown prosecutor Paul Thistle noted that Payne used the money to purchase groceries and a pack of cigarettes, with approximately $30 left over, and that Payne admitted to having no intentions of using the knife, which was described as having two bladed edges as opposed to one, as often seen on kitchen knives.
Thistle went on to state Payne has since expressed remorse over the incident, saying she called it a “mistake,” and a “spur of the moment idea, that was not worth it.”
Thistle also noted gas station robberies are relatively common in the province, adding drug addiction is often a driving factor behind people’s decisions to carry out these crimes. It was later stated during the facts that Payne had been dealing with a strong addiction to crack cocaine, and that the robbery came from desperation for the drug. Payne described the robbery as an “out of body experience,” due to her struggles with addiction.
“It really shows the really sad and profound impact that addictions can have on people, and addictions is really the issue behind a lot of the robberies we’ve seen in the province,” said Thistle. “That said, this is of course a terrifying crime – terrifying for the person affected, and for members of the general public, especially those who work in these stores, who are often working alone, and therefore very vulnerable. A message has to be sent, a message of general deterrence, for anyone looking to conduct these crimes, that it’s absolutely not worth it.”
Thistle ultimately suggested Payne receive a three-year jail sentence. However, Payne’s defence lawyer, Madeleine White, disagreed, instead suggesting a two-and-a-half-year sentence.
White, who also maintained a focus on Payne’s robbery charge, brought up Payne’s cooperation and lack of a previous record, while also stating tshe was very easy to work with. White also addressed Payne’s drug addiction, adding she has shown a strong desire to overcome it, and has been an avid participant in counselling programs at the Grace Centre in Harbour Grace, as well as the U-Turn Centre in Carbonear.
“Certainly, as a first-time offender, a period of incarceration lasting two-and-a-half-years would specifically deter (Payne) from committing a further offence. I really don’t believe she will commit further offences,” said White. “I think she is an ideal candidate for rehabilitation.”
After hearing both suggestions, Judge Paul Noble ultimately decided that White’s suggestion of two-and-a-half-years was a suitable sentence, considering Payne’s general cooperation, as well as her struggles with overcoming addiction. Noble told Payne that, after reviewing the facts of the case, he also believed her to be a strong candidate for rehabilitation.
Payne was sentenced to 900 days in prison, with seven days shaved off that time due to time already served, resulting in a final sentence of 893 days.
