BATTLEFORD – A man facing several charges relating to a car-jacking offence in which a man was shot, two years ago near Pierceland, was sentenced to seven years in prison on a number of charges at the Court of King's Bench in Battleford April 16.
Andrew Opikokew was facing charges related to a Feb. 16, 2023, offence date.
In the Jan. 13, 2025 decision, for count 1, robbery with a firearm, he was found guilty.
For count 2, discharge a firearm with intent to wound, Opikokew was found not guilty.
For count 3, possession of a firearm with readily accessible ammunition, he entered a guilty plea.
For count 4, commit an indictable offence, robbery with a firearm, for the benefit of a criminal organization – the All-Purple gang, the accused was found guilty.
And, for count 5, possession of a firearm and ammunition while prohibited, he entered a guilty plea.
A trial was previously held related to Opikokew's charges (counts 1, 2 and 4) from Nov. 18 to 22, 2024.
At the sentencing hearing, Crown prosecutor Oryn Holm recommended a total sentence of eight to nine years in jail, while Defence lawyer Patrick McDougall proposed a global sentence of five years.
Justice N. Crooks in the end sentenced Opikokew to five years for count 1, three years concurrent for count 3, one year consecutive for count 4, and one year consecutive for count 5. That works out to a global sentence of seven years. Less enhanced credit for time served, he has 1,368 days or about 3.7 years left to serve.
Some of the aggravating factors include that the robbery was conducted at the direction of and in association with a criminal organization while using a firearm.
The accused was on probation and was under a firearms prohibition at the time of the offence.
Crooks also highlighted some mitigating factors,
"You are a young man and there is a lot of time for you to change your path," she said.
Crooks noted he has a limited criminal record, although some of the offences he committed in the past are consistent with the current offence.
She also noted that the accused is an active father.
The community submitted some letters of support for the accused that the judge also noted.
Gladue factors were also an issue.
"I do not view you as a leader in this offence," Crooks added. "I absolutely accept that you were a follower. But I also believe you understood the consequences of what happened."
The judge said the most meaningful words were his own, when Opikokew addressed the court earlier.
"I accept that you are remorseful," she said.
Elliott Piche, Harold Mitsuing. Jr., Geoffrey Lewis, and Keshia Crookedneck were also facing charges in the case.
According to the court office, Piche previously entered a guilty plea for robbery on Nov. 26, 2024, and was sentenced to 2,190 days in prison less remand credit for time served.
Lewis previously entered a guilty plea to robbery on Nov 26, 2024. He was also sentenced to 2,190 days incarceration less remand credit.
Crookedneck previously entered a guilty plea on Oct. 29, 2024, to robbery. On Dec 6, 2024, she was sentenced to two years less a day conditional sentence order, followed by one-year probation.
For Mitsuing. Jr., he was sentenced to 858 days in prison after being found guilty for the charge of robbery, at Pierceland Circuit Court on March 18, 2025.
According to the police report, the charges in the case stem from an incident on Feb. 16, 2023, after Pierceland RCMP received a report about an armed robbery on Deer Lake Trail near Pierceland. Police previously said that a man and woman were parked in an SUV at the side of the road when two other vehicles pulled up to them. A man got out of the SUV and there was an altercation between him and the people in the other two vehicles. The man was shot and the SUV was stolen. He and the woman, however, were able to walk for help. He was treated at the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
Pierceland and Loon Lake RCMP searched for the suspects. Later that evening they found one of the two suspect vehicles on Island Lake First Nation and arrested three people. Police seized two prohibited firearms, ammunition, bear spray, and a machete from their vehicle. The stolen SUV was recovered on Mudie Lake First Nation.
After investigating further, Pierceland RCMP arrested two more people, on Feb. 17. Sask. RCMP’s North Battleford General Investigation Section and Forensic Identification Services helped with the investigation.
– With files from Lisa Joy