CALGARY – A former soldier who hatched a plan to attack the Veterans Affairs office in Calgary was sentenced to four years in prison Tuesday.
Glen Gieschen, 45, pleaded guilty in November to possession of a firearm, possession of a prohibited weapon and possession of a weapon. He will receive a credit of 18 months in time already served, and will spend about two-and-a-half more years in prison.
Police recovered firearms, body armour, possible bomb-making materials, schematics of a downtown Calgary skyscraper and a plan to attack the seventh-floor federal offices during Gieschen’s arrest in January 2014. Court had been told that Gieschen had a beef with the military over coverage for multiple sclerosis he believed was caused by a flu shot he received while in the military.
He was arrested after his wife called police because she was concerned that he might be suicidal. He was taken to hospital for treatment under the Mental Health Act.
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The Crown said Gieschen still poses a danger to the public and argued for between four and six years. His lawyer wanted a minimum three-year sentence in a federal prison so he could get psychological help. The judge considered the fact that he accepted responsibility, has apologized, and has cooperated with police. The judge recognized Gieschen needs treatment for his mental health problems, which was also a factor in the sentence.
A security officer with the Veterans Affairs office that was targeted read a victim impact statement on behalf of employees in the office:
“We struggle with the knowledge we were one bullet away from death,” said Michel Fay.
“We struggle with the nightmares and the constant vigilance to the fear of being a target for hate.”
Gieschen’s lawyer, Tonii Roulston, said she was pleased with the sentence because his health issues could be addressed in a penitentiary, and the 28 months he has left to serve is close to what she asked for initially.
“If he could take this back, he would,” said Roulston.
“He understands now and the judge reiterated this–that obviously what he did was wrong and he knows that he needs counseling.”
When he was arrested at his parent’s rural home west of Calgary, he was dressed in camouflage pants and was sleeping with a duffel bag near his head.
The bag contained a .40-calibre semi-automatic handgun that was loaded with a full magazine. Police also recovered a .308-calibre rifle, a ballistic range-finder scope for shooting long distances, a laser sight for shooting at close range, night-vision binoculars and 1,000 rounds of ammunition.
There were also jugs filled with chemicals, empty suitcases with metal linings, 16 black sticks with a protruding fuse, carpenter nails, threaded pipes and six tubes of camouflage face paint.
Police also recovered black gun powder, 16 canisters of bear spray, 25 smoke grenades and a gas mask.
At the conclusion of his sentencing hearing, Gieschen told the judge he takes responsibility for his “irresponsible” actions from more than a year ago.
“My thoughts go out to the people that have been harmed and that being, first and foremost, the staff, their colleagues, their families, their kids. I can only imagine the horror and fear they must have felt when they saw that in the papers,” Gieschen told the court.
“That would be a horrible thing to come to work thinking some of the people that you’re trying to help, that have served this country, would want to do a harm to you.”
With files from Global News reporter Tony Tighe
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