Five people sentenced in Freetown home invasion

Five people were sentenced Tuesday in Summerside, P.E.I., for their role in a home invasion last winter in Freetown in which the victim was robbed and beaten over a drug debt.

• Home invasion in Freetown sends man to hospital

Those sentenced are Jeferson Sanders, 22, Joshua James Bernard, 21, Skyler Kenneth Fear, 21, Shelby Jean Mary Doucette, 20, and Devon Charles Boyles, 19.

Bernard was sentenced to 42 months in federal prison. The others received2 years less a day in provincial jail and 36 months probation.

All five received a 10-year prohibition on owning weapons and an order to provide a DNA sample.

They were also ordered to pay a total of $2,900 in restitution, and each was ordered to write a letter of apology.

All had faces covered, three carried weapons

The five people forced their way into a man's home last February.

All of them had their faces covered, and three of them carried weapons a baseball bat, a pool cue and a tire iron.

They robbed the man of two TV sets and a PlayStation gaming console.

On Tuesday, court heard the man owed money for a drug debt for crack cocaine he'd received from one of the five a few days before.

Court also heard that all the assailants were high on drugs themselves and had been taking methamphetamine for days.

Car chase ensued

During the robbery, the victim began fighting back, and in response, Bernard hit the man several times with the baseball bat.

The intruders took off in a car and the victim despite a bleeding head wound took off after them.

Court heard their car got stuck in snow and mud on a dirt road. The victim rammed them twice with his Jeep.

A high-speed chase ensued, from Lower Freetown to Miscouche. Court heard speeds hit 140 km/h.

The victim eventually lost them but managed to get their licence plate number and that's how the police tracked them down.

Someone could have died, says prosecutor

According to agreed facts read in court today, Bernard planned and led the home invasion, which is why he received the longest sentence.

The prosecutor said someone could have died that night including innocent people on the highways.

The defence lawyer said none of the young people had significant prior records, and the incident shows how drug abuse can make people do terrible things.

The victim required nine stitches. He's receiving treatment for his drug addiction.

• MORE P.E.I. NEWS | Toy store loses valuable collectibles in weekend theft
• MORE P.E.I. NEWS | Why some Island women are ditching the brassiere