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Man pleads guilty to home invasion charges

The incident took place in 2017
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The Sault Ste. Marie Courthouse is pictured in this file photo. Michael Purvis/SooToday

A local man pleaded guilty this week to three charges stemming from a 2017 home invasion that occurred in the city's west end.

John Pine, 47, was convicted of break and enter to commit an indictable offence, robbery with an imitation firearm, and having his face covered with the intent to commit an indictable offence.

The offences occurred on Sept. 22, 2017.

Following the incident, police reported that Pine and two other individuals entered a Third Avenue home after forcing a door open.

The accused had his face covered and was in possession of a firearm, the Sault Ste. Marie Police Service said when he was arrested.

It was alleged that the residents were at home and were threatened at gunpoint while several items were stolen.

The trio then fled the scene.

On Tuesday when Pine pleaded guilty, Superior Court Justice Michael Varpio noted that publication bans relative to evidence adduced at pre-trial proceedings and any information that might identify the victims or witnesses, remain in place.

The judge sentenced him to a four-year term of incarceration — a sentence jointly recommended by Crown prosecutor Robert Skeggs and Toronto defence lawyer Tania Bariteau.

With the credit he received for pre-sentence custody, Pine faces a further six months behind bars.

Varpio also ordered him to provide a DNA sample for the national database, and imposed a lifetime weapons prohibition.

As well, he placed Pine on probation for three years with a condition that he have no contact with the complainants.

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About the Author: Linda Richardson

Linda Richardson is a freelance journalist who has been covering Sault Ste. Marie's courts and other local news for more than 45 years.
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