15-month sentence for BCC rioter

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This article was published 16/04/2010 (5870 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

October’s riot at the Brandon jail was the work of Native Syndicate gang members who were apparently unhappy with the living conditions.

New details of the Oct. 4 riot that involved 27 inmates were shared in court yesterday as the first of numerous accused, 19-year-old Matthew Knott, pleaded guilty to rioting.

Crown attorney Jim Ross said Knott was being housed in Unit A at the Brandon Correctional Centre with 26 other Native Syndicate inmates.

The prisoners, a number of them from northern Manitoba and Winnipeg, weren’t happy about being sent to Brandon, Ross said. The inmates were being held in two subunits within Unit A and tensions began in one subunit when inmates were asked to help change sheets.

Ross said one inmate threw a chair and struck a guard and both guards within the subunit then retreated.

Inmates then covered cameras and glass windows in doors so guards couldn’t see what they were doing and inmates in the neighbouring subunit did the same thing.

They then used metal bunk beds and other furniture as battering rams to break through two cinder block walls that separated the subunits. Inmates from one subunit then joined forces with those in the other.

The rioters also broke a hole in an external wall. A photo of the hole taken from within the jail shows how close to freedom the inmates came — green grass and trees could be seen through the breach.

But Ross said inmates were prevented from escaping by guard dogs, snipers and members of the tactical response unit stationed outside. The riot ended with the deployment of tear gas as tactical officers entered the jail.

Photos of the damage show bent metal doors hanging crookedly from their hinges and debris and furniture and mattresses strewn about the water soaked floor of the unit.

One picture shows a charred plastic chair on the floor of one of the cells.

Native Syndicate graffiti was drawn or etched on the walls along with threats against the Manitoba Warriors and Indian Posse street gangs.

Ross told court that the damage from the riot extends into the tens of thousands of dollars.

Members of the Correctional Emergency Response Unit were called in, not only Brandon, but from Headingley and Winnipeg. In total — when the damage and overtime pay for correctional staff is totalled — the riot cost about $90,000.

In total, 19 inmates were charged in relation to the riot including those who moved from one subunit to the other, and some who took credit in intercepted phone calls they made to friends and associates.

Defence lawyer Lorne Giesbrecht said Knott is from The Pas but had been living in Winnipeg. Ross said Knott, who was in custody for his court appearance yesterday, was being held on remand at BCC for "serious charges" at the time of the riot.

On his part, Knott apologized and said he’s no longer with the Native Syndicate.

The charge he plead guilty to carries a maximum term of two years, and due to Knott’s criminal record Ross recommended a jail term of 12 to 15 months.

Pointing out that the riot was gang motivated, Judge John Combs sentenced Knott to 15 months in jail.

This week, the province announced new bed spaces at its facilities at Milner Ridge and The Pas.

Attorney General Andrew Swan said those extra spaces — combined with an expansion at BCC that will extend capacity from 164 to 244 — should help alleviate overcrowding in Brandon.

As of Wednesday, there were 287 inmates at BCC.