A Manitoba judge has taken the unusual step of ignoring a joint-sentencing recommendation and imposing an even harsher penalty against a man who terrorized several victims during a drug-fueled crime spree.
Ryan Grills, 32, was sentenced Thursday to 12 years in prison after a jailhouse chaplain, local car dealer and husband-and-wife team of real estate agents were lured into a trap and then abducted and/or robbed at gunpoint.
Crown and defence lawyers had recommended a 10-year penalty.
"A sentence of anything less than 12 years would be unfit and contrary to the public interest," provincial court Judge Rod Garson said.
The judge actually sentenced Grills to 23 1/2 years for all his crimes, then reduced it by nearly half saying that would fall in line with legal precedence.
Grills' crime spree is among the most serious in recent history and included the following:
z March 9/05 -- Grills and a co-accused abducted a young man whose father owed them money from an outstanding drug debt.
The father met them at Deacon's Corner just east of the city and paid $600 for the release of his son.
* March 9/05 -- Grills and a co-accused phoned a prison chaplain they knew from their previous stints behind bars and told them they would like to repay him money they'd borrowed.
They lured him to Grills' home, where he was immediately confronted with a handgun and knife and robbed of his wallet, keys and bank card. He is then ordered to withdraw $800 cash and told not to resist.
"Don't struggle, I don't want to kill you," Grills said.
* March 10/05 -- Grills and a co-accused called a local car dealership and said they were interested in buying a vehicle. A salesman met them with the vehicle and was forced to drive his abductors to two locales where they committed armed robberies.
* March 11/05 -- Grills and co-accused called a husband-and-wife real estate team and claimed they were interested in buying a home in the inner city.
The agents met them and showed the home, then Grills pulled out a gun and pressed it to the man's head. A knife was held to the woman who struggled and cut her hand. Grills and his co-accused eventually stole the woman's purse and fled.
Winnipeg police arrested the two accused later that day. Despite their elaborate schemes, the take from all their crimes reached only $1,425.
Grills wanted double-time credit for his 29 months of pre-trial custody, but Garson ruled Thursday he should only be 1 1/2-time credit.
That leaves eight years, four months left to serve behind bars.
Garson cited the fact Grills has been disruptive in custody, threatening guards and assaulting them with feces and urine, court was told.
Defence lawyer Ian MacNair said Grills has mental-health issues.
"The drugs messed me up. I wish I had made better choices," Grills told court Thursday.
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