CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. — A P.E.I. man who was one of two people who escaped from a holding cell at a courthouse in Charlottetown was sentenced Thursday to more than six months in jail on multiple charges.
Michael Edward Perry, 29, appeared before Judge John Douglas in provincial court in Charlottetown where he was sentenced on 10 charges included thefts, using stolen credit cards and escaping lawful custody.
Crown attorney John Diamond told the court that on Jan. 30, Perry was in custody and at the courthouse for an appearance on several charges when he made his escape with fellow inmate Justin James Reynolds.
Diamond told the court their cell door was left unlocked and both men were handcuffed and shackled at the time.
The court heard that during their escape, Perry and Reynolds damaged a door that was magnetically locked.
Diamond said Perry showed some “common sense” soon after and returned to the courthouse.
Reynolds managed to make it to a residence on Upper Hillsborough Street where the police arrested him.
Earlier this month, Douglas sentenced Reynolds to 90 days in jail on multiple charges, including escaping lawful custody.
Other offences
On Thursday, Diamond also detailed some of Perry’s other offences, including thefts from Sobeys, Best Buy and a liquor store.
Perry also used stolen credit cards at several locations.
Diamond told the court Perry was supposed to be serving a prior sentence on weekends at the time, but he didn’t show up for his first weekend or any of the next six before he was arrested again.
Defence lawyer Alex Dalton told the court Perry had underlying mental health and substance abuse issues and was homeless at the time of the offences.
Dalton said the escape was a crime of opportunity and Perry recognized how “silly it was to do that".
Perry addressed the court before hearing his sentence, saying he knew he had a chance to serve his sentence on weekends and it was a bad mistake on his part.
He also said he was sorry to everyone he has hurt.
Along with the jail time, Perry will be on probation for 15 months and must pay more $1,100 in restitution.
