Payne Sentenced for Extortion, Aggravated Assault

By 250 News

24-year-old Scott Brian Payne has been sentenced in B.C. Supreme Court  to eight years in a Federal Prison.   

B.C. Supreme Court Justice Glen Parrett sentenced Payne to 3 years on one count of extortion, 29 months on the second count of extortion, and eight years for the aggravated assault. All sentences are to be served concurrently.

The three-year extortion sentence and the aggravated assault both relate to a man who had his finger cut off by Payne after a drug debt wasn’t paid. 

In the other extortion case, Payne was present when a man who owed a drug debt, was attacked with a medeivel axe. Although not an active participant in that assault,  the Court had ruled his presence had an impact in that it  supported the actions of the person who conducted the attack, and prevented the victim from resisting.

In delivering sentence, Justice Parrett noted the life struggle of this young man was “an indictment on society and the support network”.  During the pre-sentence hearing, the Court heard that as a child Payne was abandoned by his mother and physically abused by his father. He was seized from the streets of Vancouver at the age of 8.

Justice Parrett said that while he had sympathy for Payne’s background, he wanted to send a clear message that society can and will protect the public. He also indicated that while rehabilitation is an important factor in sentencing, it is secondary to the seriousness of the crime and the protection of the public takes precedence. Judge Parrett said these crimes took advantage of the vulnerable and they were calculated acts of violence to promote an atmosphere of fear and maintain discipline.

In July, co- accused 20-year-old Matthew Garfield, was found guilty of two charges of extortion and sentenced to 38 months in jail. At Garfield’s sentencing, Justice Parrett said evidence presented during the trial confirmed the existence of an organized group known as the Crew, which had a hierarchical system for distributing cocaine and setting up local crack houses.

Earlier this year Lea Perrinni was also sentenced to five years in jail related to the same events.

Email | Print | Facebook | Twitter | Digg | Del.icio.us