A Toronto man has been sentenced to four months in jail for his role in an early-morning break-in at Bluewater Power, where the suspects fled before being tracked down by a police dog team in Wyoming.
Justice Mark Poland imposed the 120-day sentence sought by Crown and defence sought for Daniel Szukenyik because it didn’t meet the high bar to reject a joint recommendation based on a Supreme Court case, but he added it was a very light sentence that gave him some discomfort.
“This crime is serious. I think it’s particularly concerning Mr. Szukenyik took it upon himself to drive this motor vehicle at a police officer . . . responding to this call,” he said. “That’s a highly dangerous situation.
“No doubt placed that officer’s life and health in peril.”
Sarnia police were sent to Bluewater Power headquarters on Confederation Street about 1 a.m. July 5 after four people who arrived in a white cargo van were seen on video cutting into a fenced area, chopping copper wire into small sections and loading it into the van.
Bluewater Power had to pay a $25,000 insurance deductible to cover the damage, court heard.
Police surrounded the area, but Szukenyik drove the van at them, forcing one officer to jump out of the way to avoid being struck. Police chased them, but called it off amid safety concerns after Szukenyik ran a red light at Confederation Street and Murphy Road and narrowly missed colliding with another vehicle.
Sarnia police alerted Provincial police as the van headed east on Highway 402. Lambton OPP found the van at Country View Motel and RV Resort in Wyoming about 1:30 a.m. and, with the help of the dog team, arrested four suspects in the campground about 45 minutes later.
Szukenyik, 21, of Toronto, was charged with failing to stop after a crash, fleeing police, dangerous driving, break, enter and theft, and breaching bail, police said. Mark Horvat, 26, Imre Varadi, 27, and Szilvester Varadi, 30, all of Toronto, were charged with break, enter and theft.
All but Szukenyik eventually got bail. The Hungarian immigrant recently pleaded guilty with the help of an interpreter to all charges except failing to stop after a crash and got a time-served, four-month sentence.
Poland said but for the joint recommendation, the sentence would have been 12 to 16 months.
Szukenyik was also ordered to pay $6,250 – one quarter of the insurance deductible – to Bluewater Power.
Assistant Crown attorney Mikesh Mistry called the break-in planned and deliberate and said Szukenyik’s driving put the safety of the public and his three passengers at risk.
Szukenyik’s lawyer said this is the most time he’s spent in jail and has been a real wake-up call for him. He also noted the immigration status of his client, who came to Canada in 2018, may be in jeopardy.
Poland said he was mindful of the immigration consequences while imposing this sentence, but noted at some point, the courts will stop factoring that in.
“You’ve come here from a long way away, committed a significant offence. You’ve endangered a police officer. You’ve endangered members of the public,” he said.
The judge added probation banning him from returning to Lambton County and talking to his co-accused.
Charges against the other three accused haven’t been tested in court. They are to appear again Nov. 14.