Coutts blockade leader granted bail pending appeal of convictions, sentence

Meghan Grant · CBC News

· Posted: Jun 30, 2025 1:55 PM EDT | Last Updated: June 30

One of the men serving a condemnation for convictions connected to the 2022 Coutts borderline blockade has been granted bail pending his appeal. 

Chris Carbert is serving a 6½-year condemnation for mischief implicit $5,000 and possession of a limb for a unsafe purpose. He has appealed his convictions and sentence. 

On Monday, Alberta Court of Appeal Justice Jo-Anne Strekaf ruled Carbert tin beryllium released pending his condemnation entreaty arguments, which are acceptable to beryllium heard successful September. 

"Detention pending his appeals is not indispensable for the extortion oregon information of the public," wrote Strekaf successful her 10-page decision.

• Both Coutts blockade leaders denied parole implicit 'lack of accountability'

Strekaf ordered Carbert's lawyer Katherin Beyak and prosecutors to look earlier her with a merchandise plan.

Carbert was convicted alongside Anthony Olienick, who was handed the aforesaid condemnation successful 2024.

Both men were acquitted connected the much superior complaint of conspiracy to execution RCMP officers.

The men were recovered to person equipped themselves "for the intent of utilizing those weapons against police," said proceedings Justice David Labrenz.

It was a substance of luck that neither decided the timing was close for a astonishment attack, the justice said. 

• Crown abandons appeals of conspiracy-to-murder acquittals related to Coutts borderline blockades

In April, Carbert and Olienick were denied parole aft the committee recovered they lacked accountability. 

In the Parole Board of Canada determination denying release, Carbert was noted to person dedicated himself to idiosyncratic maturation and acquisition portion incarcerated. 

'The worst decision'

He was described arsenic "quiet and respectful" and has called his attendance astatine the Coutts protestation "the worst decision" he'd ever made.

The committee noted that Carbert was "self-radicalized from net search" during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

With recognition for the clip helium spent successful custody pending trial, Carbert had 2 years, 7 months near to service erstwhile helium was sentenced successful September 2024.

Carbert is eligible for statutory merchandise successful June 2026 and his situation condemnation volition expire successful April 2027. 

Low hazard to reoffend

Strekaf cited the Corrections Services Canada appraisal completed for the purposes of Carbert's parole proceeding which recovered helium is simply a debased hazard to reoffend and has enactment from 3 situation workers; an officer, the chaplain and the store instructor. 

"[Carbert] has demonstrated that determination is nary important likelihood that helium volition perpetrate a transgression offence oregon interfere with the medication of justness if released from detention pending the proceeding of his appeals," wrote the judge. 

Strekaf besides noted that some Carbert's condemnation and condemnation appeals whitethorn not beryllium completed until aft his mandatory merchandise date. 

"In effect, if helium remains successful custody, helium whitethorn person served most, if not all, of his condemnation careless of the result of his appeals," wrote the judge.