BY KEITH LACEY
A repeat armed robber will undergo a 60-day assessment as Sudbury?s Crown attorney?s office continues in its application to have him declared a long-term offender.
Carl Casseus, 35, pleaded guilty Thursday to being the man who pointed an imitation handgun at a young female clerk and then the owner of a
Minnow Lake convenience store last Sept. 8.
This is Casseus? 12th conviction for robbery or armed robbery.
The Crown was originally going to seek a dangerous offender application against Casseus, which could have resulted in him being imprisoned
indefinitely.
They have reconsidered and will proceed with the long-term offender designation. It?s believed Casseus will agree to the designation, meaning police will be given additional powers to monitor him for 10 years, once he?s released from the federal penitentiary.
Casseus will return to court May 28 following his 60-day assessment.
It?s believed the Crown will ask for a six-year penitentiary term for his role in the convenience store armed robbery.
Assistant Crown attorney Andrew Slater told the court Casseus met up with co-accused Richard Petkoff and a third man in Memorial Park last Sept. 8.
The third man, who still faces serious charges and was not named in court, was in possession of an imitation pellet gun and all three men agreed ?to
do a job? to try and get some money, said Slater.
The three men went to Petkoff?s apartment and witnesses saw Casseus performing alterations to the pellet gun to make it look like a handgun.
All three men left in a car and were seen by witnesses near Lonsdale Avenue across the street from the convenience store.
The owner of the store has his residence located in the back of the building and has access to a monitor from a video surveillance system, said Slater.
The female clerk?s sister had just left the store and used her cell phone to inform her about three men acting suspiciously outside the store, he said.
A short time later, Casseus entered the store and grabbed two chocolate bars. The store?s owner thought his behaviour was suspicious and ran from
his residence to the store, said Slater.
Casseus was wearing a disguise when he waved the gun, pointed it at the female clerk and demanded money. The storeowner arrived and told the men to ?get out of here.? Casseus responded by pointing the gun at his head and ordering him to put his hands up.
The cash register was opened and $60 to $80 was removed and a large amount of candy was also taken, said Slater.
The two men ran on foot to a waiting car nearby and took off.
A police investigation was launched, which led to Casseus and he admitted his role in the armed robbery, said Slater.
His plea of guilt is important because the security camera and eyewitnesses could not make a positive identification and the plea saved a long and difficult trial, he said.
Petkoff recently received a four-year penitentiary term for his role in the incident.
Casseus will remain at the Sudbury District Jail while undergoing the 60-day assessment by a local psychiatrist.
