A Toronto man convicted of robbery for his role in a knife-point carjacking of a Ferrari valued at over $1 million has been sentenced to two years less a day of strict house arrest, avoiding prison time.
Details of the Crime
On September 30, 2022, the victim and his brother left a restaurant and were driving his Ferrari F12 to a friend's home near Bathurst Street and Eglinton Avenue when they were followed by individuals in a dark-colored BMW. After parking, the victim was confronted by two bandits who pulled a knife and demanded the keys. Superior Court Justice Michael Dineen stated that while Petrohelos did not use the knife, he was present as part of the plan, either as one of the demanders or as the getaway driver.
The Sentence
Justice Dineen acknowledged that a penitentiary sentence would normally be required for such a crime and that the Crown's proposal of three years in prison was reasonable. However, he considered Petrohelos's young age of 23 at the time, lack of criminal record, and the principle of restraint for youthful first offenders. The judge also noted that Petrohelos was not proven to have been involved in the actual threat of violence, and the case took years to come to court, with Petrohelos on strict bail.
Petrohelos was sentenced to two years less a day of house arrest, 100 hours of community service, and three years of probation. The Ferrari was later recovered, and Petrohelos's arrest was announced in January 2023.
Background of the Accused
Court heard that Petrohelos grew up with a father who became addicted to prescription drugs and left the home. He was a promising hockey player until an injury ended his dream, leading to dropping out of high school and falling in with a bad crowd. His mother stated he has since matured and is ashamed of his involvement. One co-accused received five years in prison for this and other offences, while another received a nine-month conditional sentence.
Impact on the Victim
The victim testified that the carjacking was 'totally traumatizing,' leaving him fearful in his car and avoiding downtown. Justice Dineen emphasized that carjacking is an extremely serious offence that makes residents feel unsafe, and denunciation and deterrence are key sentencing principles.
Outside court, Petrohelos maintained he only smoked weed with his co-accused and was not at the scene, though he admitted driving the stolen Ferrari. He plans to find a job and put the incident behind him, saying, 'Gotta change my life, you know?'
