A repeat offender who carried out a daring Bonnie and Clyde-style robbery of a Montreal bank in 2016 was declared a dangerous offender Friday and will serve an indeterminate prison sentence.
“In view of all the circumstances, this measure is essential to protect society and possible victims from the harmful risks arising from the irreducibility of the defendant’s impulsive and violent behavior,” wrote Judge Mario Longpré when imposing the sentence on Alain Ste- Marie.
The 52-year-old man was convicted in connection with the robbery of a TD Bank on Bernard Street, which took place in Montreal on September 2, 2016 in a scenario worthy of a movie.
He and his partner had only stayed in the bank for a few minutes before getting into a taxi and leaving the bank with a few wads of banknotes.
MAXIME DELAND/AGENCE QMI
However, her nest egg was rather meager. Not only had they stolen $410, but the wads of cash were also equipped with GPS.
Hugo Duchaine / JdeM
They then threw the taxi driver out of the car and attempted to flee at full speed with the police on their heels. Due to an accident, the woman was arrested while the robber managed to hide in a nearby house.
Hugo Duchaine / JdeM
Ste-Marie then waited for the danger to pass, smoking cigarettes and drinking rum found on the spot. However, he was found by police.
©2015 Denis Germain – photographysurlevif.ca
In October 2020, a jury found him guilty of five charges.
He was specifically charged with two robberies, using a fake firearm, driving a vehicle involved in an accident without stopping and entering a home.
Hugo Duchaine / JdeM
After a three-year delay, Judge Longpré finally announced his verdict against the man, who has had a criminal record since the early 1990s.
“The defendant’s repetition of violent acts tends to demonstrate the irreducibility of his violent behavior and marked indifference to the reasonably foreseeable consequences his actions might have on victims, increasing the high risk of harmful recidivism,” he explained.
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