Former MRU student leader feels “incredibly guilty” for bank robbery
Former Mount Royal University president Meghan Melynk walks into the Calgary Courts Centre on Monday for sentencing arguments in her conviction for robbing a bank in February 2012.
Photograph by: Gavin Young , Calgary Herald
Former Mount Royal University student union president Meghan Melnyk insisted Monday that she is remorseful for robbing a bank last year to feed a gambling habit.
“It’s been stated in court a couple of times I was minimizing or rationalizing the effect it had,” Melnyk said following sentencing arguments. “I know how horrible my crime was. I feel incredibly guilty and so much remorse.”
Melnyk said the “infamy” from media coverage of the case has been very hard on her and has made it difficult to get a job.
She added, however, that she has spent a great deal of time talking to young crowds about the effects of committing a crime as a result of addiction.
Melnyk’s lawyer, Tonii Roulston, is seeking a conditional sentence of less than two years so Melnyk will not have to go to jail.
As a fallback argument, if provincial court Judge Anne Brown feels jail is the only option, she seeks 90 days to be served on weekends and a lengthy probation period.
“I’m asking the court to consider a conditional sentence and a finding that it is not a serious personal-injury offence,” Roulston argued.
Crown prosecutor Ken McCaffrey insisted the heist is a serious personal-injury offence, and that it warrants a four-year federal prison term.
“The type of robbery it is, with a victim, is aggravating,” said McCaffrey. “The fact there is a threat of violence — saying she has a weapon — and the fact the offence was also planned.”
Melnyk previously pleaded guilty to being disguised, having unauthorized possession of a weapon and breaching her probation.
“This is not the kind of offence you can just laugh off,” said McCaffrey. “It is a harrowing experience for anyone to be robbed, as in this case.”
According to an agreed statement of facts presented as an exhibit, Melnyk entered the Servus Credit Union at 5303 68th Ave. S.E. on Feb. 29, 2012, and passed a note to a teller indicating she was armed and demanded cash.
The teller put $6,180 in cash, bait bills and a dye pack in a manila envelope. Staff noted her licence plate as she left and called 911.
Police arrested Melnyk in a silver PT Cruiser later that day.
Court heard the envelope, along with a grey sweater, sunglasses, makeup and used makeup removers, were found in the car, which Melnyk owned. Police also found a butterfly knife.
Outside court, Melnyk told reporters she had a gambling addiction unrelated to VLTs and admitted the university’s proximity to a casino was a problem.
Brown adjourned sentencing until Sept. 9.
Read more: http://www.calgaryherald.com/Former+student+leader+feels+incredibly+guilty+bank+robbery/8538827/story.html#ixzz2Wtd3Ebg2
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