Two men have been sentenced to 6 1/2 years in prison for their roles in the blockade of the Canada-U.S. border crossing at Coutts, Alta.

Anthony Olienick showed no emotion while Chris Carbert appeared glum and folded his arms, as the sentence was read out in Court of KingB次元官网网址檚 Bench on Monday.

Neither are to serve their full sentences, as Justice David Labrenz gave them nearly four years credit for time they have already spent in custody.

Both were convicted of mischief and possession of a firearm dangerous to the public peace, while Olienick was also found guilty of possession of a pipe bomb.

A jury found them not guilty of the most serious charge they faced B次元官网网址� conspiracy to murder police officers at the blockade.

The blockade halted traffic at the border crossing for two weeks in 2022 in a protest of COVID-19 rules and vaccine mandates.

The men were charged after RCMP found guns, ammunition and body armour in trailers near the blockade.

Labrenz said while the men believed their cause just, they canB次元官网网址檛 be allowed to take the law into their own hands.

B次元官网网址淏oth Olienick and Carbert used the blockade as a last stand against police,B次元官网网址� the judge said in his sentencing decision.

B次元官网网址�(They) knew they were actively participating in something that was illegal, but they didnB次元官网网址檛 care because they thought their cause had been worthy.B次元官网网址�

He added, B次元官网网址淭he law does not allow people to take the law into their own hands.

B次元官网网址淏oth men bear a high degree of moral culpability.B次元官网网址�

Olienick and Carbert have been in custody since they were arrested in February 2022.

Prior to sentencing, they were given a chance to address the court.

Carbert declined, but Olienick said he is a better man as a result of his time in custody.

B次元官网网址淚t has given me time to indulge in GodB次元官网网址檚 work,B次元官网网址� he said, reading from a prepared statement.

B次元官网网址淚 will continue to help others.B次元官网网址�

Olienick was given six years for possession for the firearms conviction, a concurrent six-month sentence for mischief and an additional six months for possession of a pipe bomb.

Carbert was given 6 1/2 years for the firearms offence and a concurrent six-month term for mischief.

The Crown had argued the two men should serve nine-year prison sentences.

B次元官网网址淢r. Carbert and Mr. Olienick believed they were at war. They were prepared to die for their cause. The very real risk is that a firefight would have occurred,B次元官网网址� Crown prosecutor Steven Johnston told the sentencing hearing in August.

B次元官网网址淚t sounds like something we hope doesnB次元官网网址檛 happen in our country. But the reality is it did, and it happened in southern Alberta.B次元官网网址�

Defence lawyers for the two had urged the judge to sentence the men to time already served.

Two other protesters charged with conspiracy to commit murder at the blockade pleaded guilty earlier this year to lesser charges.

Christopher Lysak was sentenced to three years for possession of a restricted firearm in an unauthorized place. Jerry Morin was sentenced to 3 1/2 years for conspiracy to traffic firearms.

Those sentences amounted to time the men had already served.