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By Shawn Slaght
Brandon Bluecloud, 29, was sentenced in Provincial Court on Monday to 16 months in jail for a random syringe stabbing attack that took place last October in downtown Moose Jaw. Following the jail sentence, Bluecloud will serve 18 months of probation.
Bluecloud spent 288 days in custody pre-sentencing and was credited for 432 days, meaning he has 48 days left to serve.
In a joint submission between defense lawyer Deanna Harris and Crown prosecutor Monique Paquin, Bluecloud pleaded guilty to aggravated assault, three counts of mischief and three counts of breaching an undertaking.
Judge Brian Hendrickson followed the joint submission. He sentenced Bluecloud to 16 months in jail and 18 months of probation for the aggravated assault, two months concurrent for each charge of mischief and 30 days concurrent for each charge of breaching an undertaking.
Bluecloud was arrested on Oct. 3, 2023, when police got a call for a suspicious occurrence at a downtown business. The investigation showed that Bluecloud approached a customer from behind and stabbed the victim multiple times with a needle in the lower back.
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Paquin presented an agreed statement of facts and said the Crown’s concern was denunciation and deterrent for a “random attack.”
Harris told the court that Bluecloud had a history of drug addiction and mental health issues. She told the court that it was a “drug-induced” attack. She said he has been diagnosed with schizophrenia and cannot use drugs not prescribed by a doctor.
While it was unknown how much medical attention the victim received, Hendrickson outlined the seriousness of stabbing a random with a syringe, saying the victim was left not knowing what was in the syringe or if it was a dirty needle.
“This victim that was stabbed with the needle was just going about his business and became a victim of this offence,” Hendrickson said.
Henderson also recalled a past case in which a police officer was accidentally stabbed by a needle during a search and the large amount of treatment that office had to undergo.
