Court Docket – Man carries knife during robbery, threatens clerk

H.P. court docket
March 3, 2025
Justice C.A. Palmer

A young man will be going to jail after taking several hundred dollars worth of merchandise from a High Prairie convenience store without paying with a knife in hand.

Shawn Michael Laboucan, 28, was handed a global sentence of 320 days in prison after appearing in High Prairie Court of Justice March 3 for sentencing on charges of robbery, uttering threats to cause death or bodily harm, failing to comply with release conditions, and failing to appear in court.

However, he was given credit for time served in the Peace River Correctional Centre and released.

Laboucan pleaded guilty at a previous court appearance and requested a Gladue Report and a pre-sentence report.

Court heard that Laboucan entered the Circle K store in High Prairie and took merchandise valued at more that $500 without paying, Crown prosecutor student-at-law Max Gerlach told court.

Laboucan also brandished a kitchen knife and verbally threatened the clerk. He was alleged to have told the clerk, “I will kill you.”

Gerlach added the knife was an aggravating factor.

“It can cause the cashier to fear for their life,” Gerlach said.

Justice C.A. Palmer stated the incident was frightening.

“He terrified somebody,” Justice Palmer said.

Laboucan worsened his legal troubles by failing to appear at his trial and by failing to report to his probation officer.

Court heard Laboucan suffers from fetal alcohol spectrum disorder and doesn’t remember much about the incident, said his lawyer, Harry Jong.

Laboucan is also coping with drug addictions.

“He wants to better himself,” Jong said.

“He wants to be a different person,” he added.

Laboucan explained his actions to court.

“I’ve been struggling for a long time,” he said.

“I want to clean up my life.”

Laboucan admitted he has problems with FASD and anger and is taking steps to turn his life around.

As part of his sentence, Laboucan was ordered to provide a DNA sample. He is also banned from possessing and using unrestricted firearms and weapons for 10 years and restricted firearms and weapons for life.