WATCH ABOVE: One of the men charged in the Windermere condo fire was sentenced today. Shallima Maharaj has the details.
EDMONTON — One of the men charged with setting fire to the Windermere condo complex in southwest Edmonton in March 2014 will spend two years behind bars.
Jeremy Thibert, 23, was charged with arson, break and enter, theft under $5,000 and conspiracy. His boss, 28-year-old Eric Gould, was also charged with a number of offences in connection with the blaze. Both men worked as framing contractors on the Essence at Windermere South project.
On Thursday, Thibert was sentenced to two years in prison and one year probation, which was the joint submission.
The Defence described this as a case of a 23-year-old who was negatively influenced to do something he is remorseful about.
“It was more of a ‘duped’ situation,” said lawyer Chady Moustarah.
“A young man came from down east, didn’t have a lot going for him and made the wrong decision, obviously. He was found not to be the directing mind. Of course the culpability was there, but on the lower scale, in my opinion, given that somebody else was essentially steering the boat.”
Moustarah called the sentence fair.
According to Moustarah, Thibert has a construction job lined up for when he is released.
READ MORE: 2 men arrested and charged in $6M Windermere condo arson
The fire caused $6 million in damages, including $100,000 to surrounding homes and equipment.
Investigators determined in April the fire had been deliberately set.
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