A third person has entered a guilty plea in connection to the violent Jan. 27 home invasion on the 1500 block of 98th Street.
Dwayne Katcheech was in North Battleford Provincial Court Wednesday, July 14, where he entered a guilty plea to robbery. All other charges against him have been withdrawn by the Crown.
Judge J.B.J. Nutting accepted the joint submission of Crown and defence counsel on sentencing. Both had recommended a sentence of four years, with credit given on remand of 11 months time served.
Katcheech will serve the remaining three years and one month in a federal penitentiary.
As well, Katcheech was slapped with a 10-year firearms prohibition and a DNA sample was ordered.
Katcheech is the third of eight individuals charged in the 98th Street home invasion case that sent the occupant of the residence, Lance Moosomin, to hospital with serious head injuries.
According to the facts read out in court by crown counsel Chris Browne, the home invasion was the work of an aboriginal street gang, the Native Syndicate. The invasion was carried out in the aftermath of skirmishes with a rival gang, the Terror Squad. At one point members of the two rival gangs fought at the residence of Charles Applegarth, who also faces charges in the case. As well, members of the Terror Squad attempted to forcibly enter Applegarth's residence the day before.
The 98th Street home invasion was carried out in retaliation to that, as Native Syndicate members entered the residence of Lance Moosomin, thinking the residence belonged to a member of the Terror Squad. The group knocked in the door and entered wearing bandanas and attacked Moosomin, covering him with a blanket and beating him several times with a metal pipe.
According to the facts read out in court, one of those involved in the home invasion called out to Moosomin "you can thank Chris for this - this is what happens when you f*** with the Syndicate."
The RCMP were called in soon after and located Dwayne Katcheech inside the residence in the basement. Another suspect, Steven Moccasin, was also found there. Police also found bandanas, metal pipes, marijuana and blood at the residence.
Another six individuals were also charged. Ryan Osecap was arrested following a foot chase with the RCMP at the scene. He eventually entered guilty pleas to break and enter and membership in a criminal organization.
The other accused individuals faced charges including break and enter, aggravated assault, robbery and membership in a criminal organization, among others.
According to the joint submission in court, Katcheech admits to involvement as opposed to being one of the main players. He also admits to being one of the people looking for items to steal.
Defence counsel Aaron Friedman pointed to a positive pre-sentence report that described Katcheech as only a medium risk to re-offend. Friedman characterized the situation as being one where Katcheech chose the wrong group of friends to associate with.
Friedman called it a "horrifying incident" and said Katcheech was "ashamed of his involvement," and said Katcheech admitted responsibility at the first opportunity. He also noted there was no indication Katcheech was involved in any of the violence during the home invasion, as there was no blood on his clothing.
Judge Nutting took note of the favourable presentence report and Katcheech's age, 20 years old, in deciding to go along with the joint submission.
He warned Katcheech, however, in his concluding remarks that if he returns to associating with the same negative peer group and partakes in the same kinds of activities, he can be assured of "lengthy incarceration."
Katcheech is the third person sentenced in connection to the 98th Street home invasion case. Ryan Osecap is currently serving a six-year prison sentence - five for the break and enter and one more for membership in a criminal organization. A young offender who cannot be named under the Youth Criminal Justice Act received a 30-month custodial sentence for his involvement.
