Protesters receive 6 1/2 years in prison for their role in the Coutts border blockade

LETHBRIDGE, Alta. – Two men have been sentenced to six and a half years in prison for their roles in blocking the Canada-US border crossing at Coutts, Alta.

Anthony Olienick showed no emotion, while Chris Carbert appeared dejected and folded his arms across his chest as the verdict was read out in the Court of King's Bench on Monday.

Neither will have to serve the full sentence, as Judge David Labrenz credited them with nearly four years of time already spent in custody.

Both were convicted of criminal damage and possession of a firearm dangerous to the public peace, while Olienick was also found guilty of possession of a pipe bomb.

A jury found her not guilty of the most serious charge against her: conspiracy to murder police officers during the blockade.

In protest against COVID-19 rules and vaccination requirements, the 2022 blockade paralyzed traffic at the border crossing for two weeks.

The men were charged after RCMP found weapons, ammunition and body armor in trailers near the blockade.

Labrenz said that although the men were convinced that their cause was just, they should not be allowed to take the law into their own hands.

“Both Olienick and Carbert used the blockade as a last resistance against the police,” the judge said in his verdict.

“(They) knew they were actively participating in something that was illegal, but they didn't care because they thought their cause was worthy.”

He added: “The law does not allow people to take the law into their own hands.

“Both men bear a high degree of moral culpability.”

Olienick and Carbert have been in custody since their arrest in February 2022.

Before the verdict was announced, they were given the opportunity to address the court.

Carbert refused, but Olienick said his time in prison had made him a better person.

“It has given me time to devote myself to God’s work,” he said, reading from a prepared statement.

“I will continue to help others.”

Olienick was sentenced to six years in prison for possession of a firearm, a six-month prison sentence for criminal damage and a further six months for possession of a pipe bomb.

Carbert was sentenced to six and a half years in prison for the weapons offence and a concurrent six-month prison sentence for criminal damage.

The prosecution had argued that the two men should serve a prison sentence of nine years.

“Mr. Carbert and Mr. Olienick believed they were at war. They were prepared to die for their cause. There would have been a firefight, that is a very real danger,” said prosecutor Steven Johnston at the sentencing in August.

“This sounds like something we hope doesn't happen in our country. But the reality is that it did happen, and it happened in southern Alberta.”

The defense attorneys of the two had asked the judge to sentence the men to the prison term they had already served.

Two other protesters accused of conspiracy to murder during the blockade pleaded guilty to lesser charges earlier this year.

Christopher Lysak was sentenced to three years in prison for possessing a prohibited firearm in an unauthorized location. Jerry Morin was sentenced to three and a half years in prison for conspiracy to traffic weapons.

These sentences represented time the men had already served.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published September 9, 2024.

Bill Graveland, The Canadian Press