Five-month jail sentence for local man who pointed BB gun at the mall, stole cash from pub

By Medicine Hat News on February 13, 2025.

@MedicineHatNews

A man accused of pointing a BB gun at the Medicine Hat Mall last fall, then breaking bail conditions by emptying the cash register at a pub, gets five months in jail, Court of Justice in Medicine Hat heard on Wednesday.

Joey Cameron McConnell will also be placed under 24-hour house arrest until he checks into a treatment facility for mental health and addictions issue, or surrender an $8,000 release bond.

“It addresses the primary issues of the case,” sad Crown prosecutor Brian Shantz, while presenting the plea agreement to Justice Catherine Reiger.

“It is realistically his last chance to be released on this, or any other issue.”

McConnell was arrested on Sept. 7 by Medicine Hat police officers who responded to a call that a man was pointing a firearm inside the shopping centre. That turned out to be a CO2 pellet pistol, and he was charged with unlawful use of an imitation firearm.

On Nov. 13, he was caught on camera making his way behind the bar at a pub in Medicine Hat and removing $1,100 from the till.

McConnell pled guilty to two charges through defence attorney Greg White, while appearing in court via closed-circuit TV.

He was sentenced to 150 days in custody on the imitation firearm charge, and 60 days concurrent for the theft.

He has been in custody for 140 days since last fall, and will be released to a family member to await other court matters and obtain a a spot in a treatment facility.

11
-10