Warren Montcalm, who pleaded guilty to setting fire last year to his uncle’s home in retaliation for an altercation the two had nine months previous, was sentenced Friday to one year in jail.
The 20-year-old Windsor man broke into his uncle’s home on Holiday Court in Amherstburg on Oct. 21, 2012, by going through the garage then busting through drywall to get into the house. He filled the top of a stove with books, turned on the burner and spread gasoline before fleeing.
Assistant Crown attorney Elizabeth Brown said the fire caused $90,000 damage.
“Arson is a very serious offence,” said Brown, noting that someone could have been hurt or killed. “The stakes are very high.”
Brown said though Montcalm accepted responsibility by pleading guilty, a pre-sentence report — which labelled him immature — suggests he has not shown remorse.
Montcalm, who wore a T-shirt, a beard and a Mohawk hairdo, said, “No, your honour,” when the judge asked if he would like to say anything.
Ontario Court Justice Guy DeMarco sentenced Montcalm to one year in prison, minus the 84 days he has spent in pre-trial custody.
DeMarco also sentenced Montcalm to a further two years probation during which time he may not possess incendiary devices and cannot communicate with any of his victims. As well, the judge ordered Montcalm to attend counselling as directed by corrections officials.
On Friday, Montcalm also pleaded guilty to an unrelated incident in which he tossed a landscaping stone through a stranger’s glass patio door in the 1200 block of Abbey Court in Windsor. Nobody was hurt though a pregnant woman, who was hit on the back with glass shards, suffered ongoing anxiety as a result of the crime.
Her husband gave chase when the door was smashed, though Montcalm escaped. Police later responded to a report of a suicidal man, who turned out to be Montcalm. No motive was given in court for the vandalism.
Montcalm was sentenced to 90 days in jail to be served concurrent to the arson sentence.
Defence lawyer John Sitter said his client regrets his actions and has the support of his family, some of whom were in court Friday. Sitter also said that Montcalm’s uncle did not ask for a non-association order.
“He’s glad to get this behind him,” said Sitter, noting that the guilty plea shows remorse and that his client wants to get help with his issues. “His family is trying to help him out with everything.
“He does feel bad.”
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