Plain and healthy Troy Main.
Image credit: FACEBOOK
January 6, 2023 – 6pm
The Vernon man, described as “gullible” because of his intellectual disability, today escaped a lengthy prison sentence, but was sentenced to two years in prison for his role in the violent robbery of a drug dealer. spend time in
At Vernon Court on January 6, prosecutors sought seven or eight years’ imprisonment for Troy Reginald Main’s role in the 2020 robbery, but the defense argued that his cognitive abilities were low and the case was unacceptable. requested a two-year sentence on the grounds of a minor role. crime.
“It’s not hard to say that Mr. Main’s situation here is a real challenge to sentencing,” BC Supreme Court Judge Alan Betton told the court.
The court heard how Mine had intellectual functioning in the “extreme low range.” Psychiatric reports indicated that his verbal communication was at a very low level for his age.
“(This) means that his ability to apply knowledge to everyday life situations in an age-appropriate manner is affected by difficulties in reasoning, thinking, understanding and interpreting information,” the defense said. Lawyer Dominic Berdurmen said in court.
Mine’s cognitive impairment also led 22-year-old Mine to end up in the Supreme Court docks.
Main’s mother previously told iNFOnews.ca that her son’s intellectual disability combined with his heavy drug use prevented him from acting in his best interests through the court process.
read more: Vernon’s mom says her son interfered with her court process
She explains that he is constantly going through cracks.
Claire, whose real name is not, said her son was offered a plea bargain in the form of a peace bond early in the court proceedings. plug.
However, Claire said her son was unable to process this information and was put on trial.
He could have subsequently pleaded guilty and possibly received a much lighter sentence.
However, he did not and was later convicted of burglary and robbery.
A homeless and drug addict, he again sabotaged himself by not appearing for a psychiatric evaluation.
The main crime dates back to October 2020, when he and another unidentified man broke into the motel room where Gordon Harmon lived.
He knew Harmon, and Mayne and another man, armed with hammers and tasers, beat Harmon and robbed him of a “bag full of dope.”
The Stranger Man was much more violent in his robbery, but Maine, who was 19 at the time, punched Harmon once.
Harmon wasn’t shy about discussing his involvement in the drug trade during his trial, and was subsequently charged with drug trafficking and domestic violence.
The court heard that Mine grew up in a stable family environment, but an undiagnosed intellectual disability left him growing increasingly frustrated.
He started smoking cannabis at age 15 and quickly moved on to magic mushrooms, LSD and cocaine.
He then became dependent on methamphetamine, heroin, and eventually fentanyl. he became homeless.
Maine sat on the docks at Vernon Courthouse on Friday in a dress shirt, looking considerably healthier than when he appeared in court last fall.
In October 2022, Judge Bennett postponed court proceedings after Maine appeared heavily intoxicated in court. He sat on the dock fidgeting and acting very strange.
read more: Violent Vernon man too helpless to be sent to prison released
The court could not easily prove that Maine was high and took him into custody, so he was released to the streets of Vernon.
The move horrified the mother, who desperately sought help for her son.
Shortly before Christmas, Claire managed to reunite with him, and since then he has lived with her and separated from his father.
He showed up for a psychiatrist’s appointment and eventually a report was produced.
In addition to his cognitive impairment, a psychiatrist diagnosed Mine with ADHD.
The royal family argued that the robbery was violent and premeditated and deserved a lengthy prison sentence, but the defense disagreed.
“Length in prison will not help him become a successful and productive member of society. He desperately needs drug addiction counseling (and) instruction in life-building skills. We are doing it,” said Verdurmen. “There is a risk that such influential individuals with very low cognitive ability end up in federal prison with hardened criminals.”
Justice Betton seemed to agree.
A judge sentenced Maine to three years in prison, but because he was already in custody, his sentence was reduced from two years to one day. This means Mine will avoid being sent to federal prison and will instead be imprisoned in a state prison.
The verdict is far better than what could have happened, but it’s still a far cry from what could have happened had Maine been able to adequately defend himself.
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