Glace Bay man back in prison

SYDNEY — The statutory release of a Glace Bay man from a federal prison has been revoked after he breached the conditions of his release.

Clayton Anthony Thomas, 34, was sentenced in 2017 to serve an eight-year sentence after pleading guilty to two counts of armed robbery, and single counts of wearing a disguise in committing an offence and breaching a court order.

Under the terms of the Corrections and Conditional Release Act, an inmate has the right to be released after serving two-thirds of a sentence - statutory release.

It differs from parole in that the Parole Board of Canada has discretion to grant or deny parole after evaluating the risk an offender poses to the community.

Offenders on statutory release either did not apply for early release on parole or were denied release on full parole. The statutory release provisions are not available to offenders serving life or indeterminate sentences.

Thomas was released in September 2021 but as noted in a recently released parole board decision, his positive behaviour ended with the start of a new year.

DEEMED UNLAWFULLY AT LARGE

Thomas admitted to using cocaine on New Year’s Eve and for some 74 days after failed to check in with members of his case management team and was deemed to be unlawfully at large.

“It is the board’s position that after Jan. 1, 2021, and until your arrest, you were at no point engaged in your correctional plan and your risk had become unmanageable in the community.”

This is the not first time a release for Thomas has been cancelled. In 2014, less than two months after being released on unrelated offences, Thomas was issued a suspension after failing to report to his probation officer. The suspension was eventually cancelled.

Another suspension was issued when officials learned that Thomas was doing drugs. It was later cancelled after he entered a detox program.

Thomas admitted his drug addiction dates back to when he was a child and was a victim of physical abuse. At an early age, he began sniffing gasoline and later turned to drugs and alcohol. He was addicted to opiates.

‘REPETITION OF PAST ACTIONS’

“Your current behaviour is a repetition of your past actions during statutory release,” said a parole panel in a decision cancelling the release.

The decision states further that the board does not believe Thomas made significant progress against his risk factors since being returned to jail.

“You are not considered engaged in your correctional plan. You have participated in other correctional programs but you were eighter suspended or received a rating of incomplete.”

The panel noted that while in jail, Thomas has been a problematic inmate involved in intimidating other inmates, disrespectful to staff and generally displaying a bad attitude.

Although warrant for his arrest was issued in January 2021, Thomas was not arrested until March, when he attempted to access his methadone prescription.

‘COMPLETELY UNBELIEVABLE’

“You remained unlawfully at large for 74 days during which time you failed to participate in your drug testing program and you made no attempts to contact your parole supervisor. Your explanation that you were unaware a warrant had been issued for your arrest is completely unbelievable.”

The panel concluded that Thomas failed to show a willingness to ability to be open and honest with his case managers and comply with the conditions of his release.

He was charged in connection with a robbery in April 2015.

Thomas and three other men burst into a home shortly after 12:30 a.m. while armed with a rifle and wearing bandanas.

They demanded drugs from one of the residents who had months prior got out of the drug trade.

While police were at the scene of the home robbery, they received a call about a robbery at a Sydney convenience store.

Thomas admitted to his involvement in that crime as well.