A Charlottetown man who went to prison after he set an apartment building on fire with nine people sleeping in it has had conditions imposed on his upcoming release.
Dennis Joseph O’Brien was sentenced in 2016 to serve three years, 10 months and 15 days in prison after pleading guilty to arson and breaching his probation.
In a recent report, the Parole Board of Canada ruled O’Brien must live in a place the Correctional Service of Canada approves of when he gets out on a statutory release.
The board said it believes O’Brien has a propensity for violence.
“You have shown violent and aggressive acts in the community and this is concerning to the board.”
O’Brien had previously told the court he had planned to smoke a joint in a Charlottetown building, but accidentally set a mattress on fire and panicked.
Video played in court showed O’Brien enter a kitchen and emerge with something on fire in his hands.
Another video showed him walking out of an empty room that was the building’s fire exit before flames and smoke filled the hall.
Related: Charlottetown man pleads guilty to setting apartment building fire
“You have shown violent and aggressive acts in the community and this is concerning to the board.”
Parole Board of Canada
During the sentencing, provincial court Judge John Douglas said there were no signs O’Brien was panicked.
All of the building’s tenants escaped, but emergency responders had to drag a woman through the heavy smoke to get her out of the building.
She suffered minor burns, blistering on her fingers, smoke inhalation and singed hair.
The parole board’s report said O’Brien served five prior federal sentences, including for armed robbery, robbery, arson and assaulting peace officers.
During his past prison sentences, O’Brien was placed in segregation nine times and had his security classification increased to maximum.
In imposing conditions on O’Brien’s release, the parole board said they were deemed necessary for the protection of society and will help with his reintegration into society as a law-abiding citizen.
The board did not authorize leave privileges for O’Brien, saying it believed he needed to show a level of credibility and stability before leave could be looked at.
“The board is of the opinion that such leave would jeopardize public safety.”
During his statutory release, O’Brien is banned from consuming, buying or possessing alcohol or drugs other than medications taken as prescribed or over-the-counter drugs taken as recommended by the manufacturer.
O’Brien’s statutory release is set for later this month.
