Bloodied offender sentenced for Nanaimo pharmacy break-in, strong rehab potential shown

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Riley Quin broke into a bottom floor window to gain entry to Anchor Family Medicine. (Image Credit: Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)

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The officer didn’t think anybody would be able to get through the broken window.

Two clinic rooms had been rummaged through, the responding officer noted.

“There were boxes emptied, drawers emptied on the floor, other equipment was on the floor, there was a phone that had been damaged and there were a number of chards of glass on the window pane all over,” Mascolo told court.

A blood sample was secured by the Mountie from a chard of glass.

“The sink was still running, all of the cupboards in the bathroom had been gone through. The officer believed at that point that the person responsible had cut themselves quite badly and was looking for something to stop the bleeding,” Mascolo told court.

Several items were stolen from the clinic.

A blood sample was secured by the Mountie from a chard of glass, later positively linking Quin to the break-in following lab processing.

Quin, who has long struggled with cocaine and opioids, is dealing with fentanyl as primary concern.

He remained on the loose for an extended period of time.

After no-showing in court in Nanaimo last April for the pharmacy break-in, Mascolo said Quin was arrested last Aug. 1, was released to go into treatment which was not successful and Quin was back behind bars at the end of this past January.

He was arrested shortly after a renewed call for public assistance by Nanaimo RCMP to locate Quin, who believed he was in the Nanaimo area and evading arrest.

Quin has numerous break-and-enters on his record in B.C., including previously in Nanaimo and Alberta, resulting in several jail tenures, including federal sentences.

“He’s spend the vast majority of his adult life in custody and all of his offending is associated, or certainly linked very strongly to his substance misuse disorder,” Mascolo told court, while referencing a pre-sentence report.

Conceding the sentence is generous given Quin’s record, Mascolo said his recent rehabilitative efforts factored heavily into the reduced jail time recommendation.

Quin has excelled over the last six months, undergoing treatment while in custody at Nanaimo Correctional Centre (NCC), court was told.

He successfully completed the renowned Guthrie Therapeutic Community program offered at NCC, his lawyer Erin McLean told the hearing.

She said Quin has clear direction in where he wants his life to go, while he’s understanding the link between his substance use and criminal activity.

McLean said Quin is taking accountability for his actions.

“He is also not minimizing the amount of work that lies ahead. There are significant steps still to be taken,” McLean said.

Several character reference letters were submitted to the court, speaking to the strides Quin has made.

A Guthrie representative spoke glowingly of Quin, calling him inspiring, a strong leader and mentor.

Quin intends to pursuit a peer counsellor role as a profession post-release.

He has just over four months further to serve in jail.

With pre-sentencing credit applied, Quin has a little over four months further to serve.

Provincial court judge Christine Proteau said Quin is lucky to be alive given his extended high-risk lifestyle.

The judge accepted jointly suggested sentencing recommendation between the Crown and defence.

“The information that’s put before me really shows nothing but someone that’s making every effort at this stage of their life,” judge Proteau said.

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