Coutts blockade leader granted bail pending appeal of convictions, sentence
Chris Carbert serving 6½-year prison sentence for mischief, weapons offences
One of the men serving a sentence for convictions connected to the 2022 Coutts border blockade has been granted bail pending his appeal.
Chris Carbert is serving a 6½-year sentence for mischief over $5,000 and possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose. He has appealed his convictions and sentence.
On Monday, Alberta Court of Appeal Justice Jo-Anne Strekaf ruled Carbert can be released pending his conviction appeal arguments, which are set to be heard in September.
"Detention pending his appeals is not necessary for the protection or safety of the public," wrote Strekaf in her 10-page decision.
Strekaf ordered Carbert's lawyer Katherin Beyak and prosecutors to appear before her with a release plan.
Carbert was convicted alongside Anthony Olienick, who was handed the same sentence in 2024.
Both men were acquitted on the more serious charge of conspiracy to murder RCMP officers.
The men were found to have armed themselves "for the purpose of using those weapons against police," said trial Justice David Labrenz.
It was a matter of fortune that neither decided the timing was right for a surprise attack, the judge said.
In April, Carbert and Olienick were denied parole after the board found they lacked accountability.
In the Parole Board of Canada decision denying release, Carbert was noted to have dedicated himself to personal growth and education while incarcerated.
'The worst decision'
He was described as "quiet and respectful" and has called his attendance at the Coutts protest "the worst decision" he'd ever made.
The board noted that Carbert was "self-radicalized from internet search" during the COVID-19 pandemic.
With credit for the time he spent in custody pending trial, Carbert had two years, seven months left to serve when he was sentenced in September 2024.
Carbert is eligible for statutory release in June 2026 and his prison sentence will expire in April 2027.
Low risk to reoffend
Strekaf cited the Corrections Services Canada assessment completed for the purposes of Carbert's parole hearing which found he is a low risk to reoffend and has support from three prison workers; an officer, the chaplain and the shop instructor.
"[Carbert] has demonstrated that there is no substantial likelihood that he will commit a criminal offence or interfere with the administration of justice if released from detention pending the hearing of his appeals," wrote the judge.
Strekaf also noted that both Carbert's conviction and sentence appeals may not be completed until after his mandatory release date.
"In effect, if he remains in custody, he may have served most, if not all, of his sentence regardless of the outcome of his appeals," wrote the judge.
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