(ASHLEY LEGASSIC / iNFOnews.ca)

A Prince George man will spend 23 months behind bars for his part in a violent robbery in downtown Kamloops earlier this year.

Mikael W. Stewart, 22, was sentenced on one count of robbery in Kamloops Supreme Court today, Dec. 17, by Justice Dev Dley.

Court heard Stewart and another unknown suspect who has never been identified approached an intoxicated male walking alone in the early morning hours of April 19 near St. Paul Street and 1 Avenue.

Crown prosecutor Camille Cooke says Stewart and the other unknown male had their faces covered. Stewart pulled out a knife and held it approximately four to five inches away from the victim’s throat while demanding his wallet, phone and his personal identification numbers for his credit and debit cards.

The victim complied and handed over his belongings and provided Stewart and his accomplice with his information.

Afterwards, the victim went to the nearest house to call 911. Police were able to track down the victim’s credit card records to determine where the cards were being used. The victim’s credit card records showed various withdrawals from ATMs in downtown Kamloops, and a convenience store.

A few hours later, there was an attempted purchase at a McDonald's and a gas station but the cards declined, Cooke said.

Police identified Stewart through surveillance video footage and he was eventually arrested.

Stewart admitted he was coming down from “bad heroin” at the time of the armed robbery.

A victim impact statement read by Crown says the individual who was robbed feels constant paranoia, doesn’t feel safe and feels anger towards street people.

Stewart’s lawyer, Jay Michi, explained his client’s upbringing. According to Michi, Stewart was born in Kamloops but grew up primarily in Prince George. He moved back to Kamloops roughly a year ago and has a Grade 10 level education. He was raised by a single mother and his father died of a heroin overdose.

When he came to Kamloops, he was on social assistance and struggling with a drug addiction.

Defence had asked for a sentence range of 12 to 15 months followed by a probation period focused on rehabilitation.

Stewart has a criminal record with 28 convictions from 2017. Some of his convictions include fraud and property-related offences.

Crown prosecutors were seeking a sentence of 18 to 24 months of jail time.

Justice Dley sentenced Stewart to 23 months but will only have 15 and a half months left to serve in custody after taking into account the time he has already served. Dley explained the sentence is to ensure Stewart takes advantage of the rehabilitation programs while he is in prison.

After his jail time, Stewart will be placed on a two-year probation term and faces a 10-year firearm and weapons prohibition.

Stewart addressed his victim in court stating he was sorry.

“I wish him a good life and he will never see me again,” he said.

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