A central Alberta farmer, charged after he took the law into his own hands over two years ago during a robbery on his property, will serve a 90-day jail sentence on weekends.
Brian Knight was charged after he fired two shots at a thief as he attempted to flee Bashaw-area farm on a stolen quad in March of 2009.
The man he hit received non-life threatening injuries – and was sentenced to one month in jail for the robbery in April 2010.
The 41-year-old farmer plead guilty to criminal negligence causing bodily harm.
"Society has said through laws and the case law, that vigilante action will not be tolerated," Crown Prosecutor Jason Snider said. "Particularly not vigilante action involving firearms."
Knight's lawyer had asked for a conditional discharge, because Knight had no previous criminal record and was considered at a low-risk to reoffend.
"I'm just so disappointed," Knight's lawyer Balfour Der said. "If there's ever someone that deserves to get a discharge and not be saddled with a criminal record, it's this man."
Der said Knight is a local hockey coach and 4H leader.
"He's a volunteer in the community, and he's going to be prohibited from doing that because he has a criminal record," Der said.
"To not sort of factor in the human nature part of it is I think the part that disappoints me."
During his sentencing arguments, Knight apologized publicly, saying in court "I feel sorry for my actions."
However, the judge decided time served behind bars would be the appropriate punishment, saying it would go against public interests to grant a discharge.
Der told CTV News he would decide within a few days if they will appeal the sentence.
Knight will start serving his sentence on October 14; he has also been barred from owning a firearm for ten years.
With files from Bill Fortier
