Nearly two year sentence for man guilty of Husky station robbery
Bob Mackin
A 32-year-old man was sentenced Feb. 7 to another year and 51 weeks in jail for his role in an armed robbery at the Husky Gas Station in the 8000 block of Hart Highway in Prince George last February.
Court heard that Brandon Michael Felix and another individual, both with their faces covered, visited the gas station before 7 a.m. on Feb. 2, 2024. The other male broke the glass to a gun case and stole 10 firearms. The two men fled in a Ford F-150 pickup truck.
More than an hour later, the vehicle’s owner reported it stolen to Prince George RCMP.
A police officer driving on Kelly Road South noticed a male sitting at a bus stop south of Austin Road, wearing a black and camouflage jacket similar to the one in the description from the crime scene.
The officer ordered the man, identified as Felix, to keep his hands out of his pockets, asked his name and instructed him to stand-up. A shotgun fell out of Felix’s jacket while being handcuffed.
Crown and defence lawyers made a joint submission for a 3 ½-year sentence.
Assoc. Chief Judge Paul Dohm noted that Felix had pleaded guilty to a January 2024 shoplifting incident, in addition to the February 2024 armed robbery and possession of a firearm contrary to an order charges.
Dohm said Felix’s co-operative behaviour during the arrest and the early guilty plea were both mitigating circumstances. However, Felix was most recently sentenced to 150 days in September 2022 for robbery.
Dohm said that Felix is Indigenous and from north of Fort St. James. He spent much of his childhood living in foster care, with his paternal grandmother and in group homes. He also lived for 10 years on the streets and has battled addiction. Dohm acknowledged Felix’s father, Michael Antoine, is a former native healing counsellor at Prince George Regional Correctional Centre.
Dohm gave Felix a one-day sentence for shoplifting and 3 1/2 years for the two more serious charges. Since he had the equivalent of 555 days credit for time served in custody, his net new sentence is 723 days.
“Mr. Felix, you've been doing well in the institution, keep doing well,” Dohm addressed Felix. “Take as much programs as you can, and when you get out, rely on your dad. He's going to keep you on the right path. Stay away from the bad influences. Stay off of drugs. We don't want to see you again in the courts. We want you to see you living a more productive lifestyle, and I know you can do it.”
