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Sentenced to four years

Kirsten Murphy
Northern News Services

Pangnirtung (Jun 25/01) - A 32-year-old man who shot and wounded an RCMP officer in Pangnirtung last year was sentenced to four years in a federal prison June 19.

Tony Evic shot Const. Paul Descoteaux in the left arm on March 9, 2000. He pleaded not guilty to using a firearm, assaulting an officer, assault causing bodily harm and breach of an undertaking last year.

The case was set for trial by judge and jury on June 19. But at the trial last week, Evic switched to a guilty plea.

"Judge John O'Flynn took that into consideration," said Cpl. Jeff Johnston, the case's investigating officer in Pangnirtung.

Descoteaux was flown south for treatment. He has since transferred to Ottawa, where he remains employed with the RCMP.

Descoteaux was responding to a domestic dispute when a struggle ensued with Evic and a shot was fired.

O'Flynn noted the year Evic has already spent in custody and reduced the actual jail time to two years.

Evic was transferred to the Baffin Correctional Centre in Iqaluit last week. He awaits transfer to a southern penitentiary.

He also received a 10-year firearms prohibition, but he will be allowed to hunt for subsistence and employment purposes upon his release, Johnston said.