Attempted robbery lands man prison time

By Delon Shurtz - Lethbridge Herald on June 18, 2024.

LETHBRIDGE HERALDdshurtz@lethbridgeherald.com

A 23-year-old man who attempted to rob a convenience store with an imitation handgun, has been sent to a federal penitentiary.

Kellen Dax Gosselin pleaded guilty Friday in Lethbridge court of justice to charges of robbery, using an imitation firearm while committing an indictable offence, and failure to comply with a release order. He was sentenced to three years in prison, minus two months he spent in remand custody waiting to resolve his charges.

At about 3:35 a.m. on April 12 of this year Gosselin walked into a 7-Eleven store in the 400 block of Mayor Magrath Drive South, requested money from the clerk then threatened her with a BB gun.

“The person asked (the clerk) for money, and when she told him she did not have access to the money, the person pointed a gun at her,” Crown Prosecutor Kathleen Tokaruk told the judge.

Another man in the store, whom the clerk believed was an accomplice, subsequently gave up the accused.

“Ultimately police were able to identify the co-accused,” Tokaruk said. “The co-accused ultimately implicated this accused and then Mr. Gosselin was arrested.”

Gosselin was arrested on May 2, and the BB gun used in the robbery was found at his residence. He admitted he was the culprit after police showed him video stills of the robbery.

The Crown noted that Gosselin was on probation at the time of the offence, with a condition that he not possess any weapons.

“This is certainly a very serious matter and a very scary situation for the clerk.”

Tokaruk said store clerks are particularly vulnerable because they often work alone, and even though Gosselin only had an imitation firearm, the clerk didn’t know that.

“Whether it’s a BB gun or not…to her it looks like a real gun being pointed at her face. It’s very scary and that’s certainly aggravating.”

Lethbridge lawyer Darcy Shurtz said Gosselin accepts responsibility for the offence, and made the decision to deal with it, serve his time, and hopefully get his life back on track.

“It’s an unfortunate situation he’s found himself in,” Shurtz said.

Justice Grace Auger accepted the Crown and defence recommendation for a three-year prison sentence, but also expressed regret that the tearful young man was heading to prison for the first time.

“Mr. Gosselin, I’m sorry,” Auger said. “This is heartbreaking, but I appreciate that you’re taking responsibility. You know that takes a lot, so good for you.”

In addition to his sentence, Gosselin must also submit a sample of his DNA for the National DNA Data Bank, and he is prohibited from possessing certain weapons for 10 years and others for life.

Additional charges of being disguised with intent to commit an indictable offence, assault and failing to comply with a release order and probation orders were withdrawn.

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