A Victoria man will spend three and a half years behind bars in relation to an April home invasion in Nanaimo.
Ashley Laird Baird, 33 when he was arrested in Victoria April 25, was sentenced in Nanaimo court Monday. According to Dan McLaughlin, Crown counsel spokesman, Baird was sentenced to four years, but was credited for six months served.
Baird was found guilty of committing robbery where a firearm was used; forcible confinement without lawful authority; assault with a weapon; possession of firearm contrary to order and four counts of possession for the purpose of trafficking.
According to a Nanaimo RCMP, Baird forced entry into a house in the 700 block of Haliburton Street on April 20 armed with a shotgun. He proceeded to tie up the occupants and assaulted and threaten them.
Nanaimo police said they arrested Baird with assistance from Victoria police, and he was found with what police suspected was crystal methamphetamine and heroin/fentanyl, as well as an imitation BB gun. Subsequently, police also carried out a search warrant on Baird’s house and found a shotgun and zap straps which were believed to be part of the home invasion.
McLaughlin said Baird is also banned from owning firearms for life.