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Parole board considered 'casual and systemic racism' while freeing armed robber
An armed robber who was involved in prison drone drops of drugs while behind bars and allegedly assaulted and choked his ex-girlfriend the day he got full parole is free again even though the Correctional Service of Canada (CSC) recommended against releasing him.
Daniel Christian Anthony Johnson, who was sentenced in February 2024 to more than five years in prison for two March 1, 2022 jewelry store robberies in the Halifax area, was released on full parole this past April. But that was suspended after he allegedly attacked his ex.
“You were set to begin your full parole on April 14. The warrant for your apprehension and suspension was issued and executed on the same day. The Parole Office received information that you had received new criminal charges relating to assault, assault by choking, and uttering threats. Your ex-intimate partner reported to police that you had assaulted her that morning,” said a recent decision from the Parole Board of Canada.
Johnson, 31, got into a verbal argument with the woman and she broke up with him, said the parole board.
“At that point, you reportedly pushed her before choking her. You threatened to kill her and reportedly hit her repeatedly with a closed fist. Police observed physical marks on the victim. You were still at the home of the victim when police arrived.”
All of those charges were stayed this past May, said the July 22 decision.
“You deny any physical violence occurred,” it said. “You stated that your ex-partner had provided a false statement to police and that she was intending to give police information relating the same.”
The couple had made plans for the woman and her six children to move in with him once he got full parole.
But while Johnson was transitioning from day parole to full parole she “discovered text messages” between him and other women, said the decision. “You told the board that she became jealous and angry. You said that she was throwing things around her house. You denied assaulting her. You told the board that you did physically touch her to stop her from hurting herself. At this time, the children were at school.”
The CSC “is recommending” that Johnson’s full parole be revoked, said the decision.
But the parole board cancelled Johnson’s suspension.
“It is the board’s opinion that you will not, by reoffending before the expiration of your sentence according to law, present an undue risk to society if released,” said the decision.
The board “does not believe” that Johnson was returning to his crime cycle, said the decision. “There is no indication that you returned to substance abuse to cope with stress related to either your move to full parole or with the breakdown of your relationship. You were not engaged with individuals who were involved in criminal activity.”
Johnson is serving a sentence of five years, one month and 14 days for robbery, theft under under $5,000, forcible confinement, careless use of a firearm, assault with a weapon, carrying a concealed weapon, unauthorized possession of a restricted weapon in a moving vehicle, and failing to comply with a court order.
“You and an accomplice went to a jewelry store (on Halifax’s Quinpool Road) armed with a gun and held a customer hostage while attempting to steal items. An employee escaped the store and managed to contact police,” said the decision.
They later robbed a pawn shop in Lower Sackville, N.S., making off with $30,000 in jewelry in an incident in which the shop owner struggled with an armed accomplice of Johnson and a shotgun discharged into the floor.
“You stole gold and fled in a vehicle. Police followed you and the vehicle went to a mall that had to be locked down due to an armed intruder protocol. You were later found.”
Johnson is “a first-time federal offender of Indigenous and African Canadian descent,” said the decision.
In its final assessment, the board considered “the casual and systemic racism and intergenerational traumas which impact Indigenous and Black people in Canada,” said the decision.
“The board acknowledges that colonization, residential schooling, forced assimilation practices and racism and marginalization, have impacted your upbringing and how you interact with the criminal justice system. The board considers that it is clear that this history provides context for your criminality. Specifically, you have experienced family fragmentation, substance abuse, and have been the victim of violence. The board believes that your substance abuse, poor coping mechanisms, and poor emotions regulation, are linked to the trauma you and your family have experienced.”
Since he was placed back behind bars this past spring, Johnson told the board that he’s been keeping to himself, “smudging, making dream catchers, and in touch with an Elder,” said the decision.
While incarcerated, Johnson was caught “diverting” his methadone, said the decision, which means that instead of swallowing the prescribed medication used to treat opioid use disorder, he kept it to share, sell, or save.
On top of that, Johnson’s jailers found a pill determined to be Wellbutrin, an antidepressant, in his cell.
Johnson “also admitted to participating in a drone drop,” although he told the board that he “participated under threat of violence and did not consume any drugs related to the drone drop,” said the decision.
For the first three months of his release on full parole, Johnson must live in a halfway house.
He’s also supposed to avoid contact with his ex.
Returning to a halfway house will allow Johnson to continue his parole “without posing a risk to society,” said the decision, which also authorized leave privileges for him.
He also must “immediately report all sexual and non-sexual relationships and friendships with females” to his parole supervisor.
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