Crown Seeks 9-Year Prison Sentence in Coutts 4 Case Despite Jury Acquittal of Conspiracy to Murder

“Malicious Prosecution,“ said @marco_huigenbos, former town councillor of Fort Macleod, who himself is facing sentencing that could jail him for up to 10 years over mischief for his alleged role in organizing the anti-COVID mandate protest 2 years ago. “The Crown put a notice of appeal out to send a message to Justice Labrenz that if your sentencing doesn’t fall in line with what we’d like to see, which is, as we’ve heard this morning, nine years for Tony Olienick and Chris Carbert -- I feel that the judge has heard this message and is acting on it -- Tuesdays comments by Justice Labrenz, where he throws out all of Chris Carbert’s testimony, calling the man a liar, seem very extreme and reflect this narrative,“ Huigenbos said. Although the men were found not guilty of conspiracy, they were found guilty of possessing a weapon for a dangerous purpose and mischief over $5,000. Tony was also found guilty of possessing an explosive substance for a dangerous purpose, despite the substance being located over 200 km away from the Coutts blockade.