WESTLOCK – “That was very stupid,” Justice R. M. Saccomani said about a homeowner chasing down Edward Young after he was caught on his property.
Young appeared in Westlock Court of Justice on Oct. 30 by CCTV from Edmonton Remand Centre and pleaded guilty to possession of stolen property valued over $5,000, driving while prohibited, breach of conditions and mischief/damage under $5,000. The charges stem from three separate arrests.
On June 25, 2024, he was arrested after a homeowner reported to police that ATV riders had approached his shed and broke the lock mechanism. When he confronted them they fled. The homeowner then chased after them and he recognized Young, court heard.
Justice Saccomani said that from a homeowner’s perspective, having three men come onto your property, any time of the day or night, causes fear.
“The problem we have, is that in a rural area when you live on an acreage, you are very vulnerable. You don’t know who is coming to your door and crime in the rural areas is on the upswing. That is a very serious offence.”
Crown Prosecutor Eric Mosley detailed another incident from May 24, 2023, when RCMP arrested Young while he was driving a stolen truck. During the arrest, police discovered knives and a machete in his possession.
Justice Saccomani noted the significant hardships individuals face when their vehicles are stolen.
“You may not have an appreciation of the impact of losing your vehicle,” she said. “Many individuals don’t have resources to go out and get another vehicle and insurance is so difficult to deal with.”
In an incident on March 13, 2024, Young was arrested and charged with driving while prohibited and breaching release conditions by not having written permission to drive the vehicle.
Young’s defence lawyer, David Keyes, argued that his client had verbal permission from the owner to drive the vehicle in question, but didn’t have it in writing. He added that at the time, Young was actually outside of his driving prohibition period but didn’t know he had to apply to get his license back.
Keyes told the court that 39-year-old Young is from Calling Lake First Nation and Wabasca area. He also mentioned Young's difficult upbringing, highlighting the loss of his mother, who froze to death while homeless in 2008.
Even though Young waived his right to a Gladue report, which considers the unique circumstances of Indigenous offenders such as a family history of residential schools and experiences of abuse, Justice Saccomani acknowledged his difficult childhood.
“He has had a very tragic upbringing, dysfunctional, exposed to alcoholism, various forms of trauma and neglect that is very consistent with the tragedies that many individuals from Indigenous communities present with in court,” said Justice Saccomani. “This is entirely expected.”
But she added, “It’s difficult Mr. Young to know at what point the court can communicate to you that crime is not tolerated. You have a very long record and some very serious charges.”
Young was handed a 135-day global jail sentence. With credit for time served in custody on remand, he had 42 days left to serve.
