Guilty of two charges of possessing firearms while under a 10-year ban
Date: Oct 26, 2006 9:03 AM
PUBLICATION: New Brunswick Telegraph-Journal
DATE: 2006.10.26
PAGE: B5
BYLINE: Bruce BartlettTelegraph-Journal
SECTION: NEWS
WORD COUNT: 292

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Addict admits robbery

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A St. Stephen man admitted Wednesday he robbed a Saint John convenience
store earlier this month, but denied trying to commit another robbery in
the city.

Matthew Ryan Thomas Robinson, a 21-year-old crack addict, admitted
pointing a handgun at two female clerks at Handi’s convenience store in
the Morland Trailer Park on Oct. 14 and walking away with $250.

However, he denied attempting to rob Little John’s Variety Store at 10
John T. McMillan Ave., the next evening, but admitted being there with
his face masked, carrying a knife and a gun.

His lawyer, Margaret Gallagher, said there is a legal issue for a judge
to decide whether Robinson’s actions on the night of Oct. 15 went far
enough to be considered attempted robbery.

Police said Robinson went into Little John’s once and left without doing
anything because the store was busy with customers. A clerk called the
police because of suspicions about the man and when officers arrived
they found him wearing a mask and hiding in the bushes across the street
from the store.

The evening before, at Handi’s convenience store, Robinson came along
the side of the building and pointed a gun at the two female clerks who
were standing outside the front door.

The women went back inside behind the counter and handed him the cash.

Officers had no suspects following the first robbery, but when Robinson
was arrested the following night outside Little John’s they questioned
him about Handi’s and he admitted doing the job. He wrote a letter of
apology to the two female clerks.

Robinson also pleaded guilty to two charges of possessing firearms while
under a 10-year ban, issued by a judge in St. Stephen. He was also on
probation at the time he committed all the offences.

McNally said she will call seven witnesses at the trial on the attempted
robbery charge. Provincial Court Judge William McCarroll set aside half
a day on Nov. 28. He will sentence Robinson then on all the charges to
which he has pleaded guilty.

The Second Amendment IS Homeland Security !