jappel@medicinehatnews.com@MHNJeremyAppel
One of two men who pled guilty to robbing the Spice Hut restaurant while wearing masks has had his sentencing adjourned three months due to a miscommunication with the Southern Alberta Forensic Psychiatry Centre.
Michael Mingo was scheduled for sentencing Friday in provincial court, for which a pre-sentencing report and psychiatric assessment were ordered.
The PSR was completed in time, but defence counsel James Rouleau said he was never contacted by SAFPC to provide them with relevant information for their assessment.
Rouleau called the psychiatric assessment a “very important document,” especially given the PSR’s contents.
Mingo’s sentencing is now scheduled for Nov. 5.
Also on Friday, Judge Eric Brooks agreed the court must return $800 of the $2,000 seized from Mingo upon his arrest.
“It was not the proceeds of any ill-gotten gain,” said Brooks.
Mingo and Jayson Arndt were arrested in October after robbing the Indian restaurant in the Travelodge Hotel, with Mingo wearing a paintball mask and Arndt disguised in a clown mask.
Arndt was sentenced to 32 months in prison – 27 months for the robbery and five for doing it while wearing a disguise.
Counsel for Arndt argued that his participation was driven by his addiction to methamphetamine, with Mingo telling him they were going to settle a drug debt.
Surveillance footage entered as evidence shows an apparently reticent Arndt turning away before proceeding with the offence when Mingo pointed a pellet gun at him, the defence argued.
Their driver – Kristopher Hansen – received a one-year sentence.
