Orillia bank robber pleads guilty, sentenced to another year in jail

Orillia man Lucas Campbell will spend another year behind bars on multiple charges, including bank robbery.

An Orillia man who held up a bank in October has pleaded guilty to four criminal charges, including escaping from police custody, has been sentenced.

Lucus Campbell, 30, was found guilty by Justice Edward Carlton in a Midland courtroom to theft under $5,000 at a Home Depot store in Orillia in August 2024, robbery at the Monarch Drive TD bank two months later, resisting a peace officer following his arrest, and failing to comply with a previous release order.

Campbell was sentenced to 397 days in custody when credited with time served in pre-sentence custody. He appeared by video from the Toronto East Detention Centre.

The Orillia man pleaded guilty to the bank robbery October 21, 2024, when the court heard Campbell handed a note to a teller demanding money, indicating he had a gun. A red-dye package he pulled out exploded and released a red smoke. The Crown said the money taken was never recovered.

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Police revealed Campbell was arrested the next day and while in custody, asked officers to allow him to smoke a cigarette outside the OPP detachment in Orillia when he tried to escape. He has been behind bars in three different facilities since his arrest.

Campbell, the Crown said, has a lengthy criminal record dating back 11 years. He was sentenced in 2018 for armed robberies of a nearby Scotiabank and convenience store.

His lawyer, John Kaldas, told the court Campbell, who was adopted at the age of one, has a history of trauma, mental and physical health issues including a heart condition and Hepatitis C. He noted Campbell has battled a drug addiction for many years and has overdosed several times. Kaldas said his client committed the crimes to feed his addiction.

“I own up to what I did,” said Campbell. “I’ve got to work on my substance abuse issues.” He told the court he needs to get help for his demons and wants to turn his life around with treatment.

Justice Carlton accepted the joint submission by the Crown and defence, which he characterized as being on the “low end” of the range for sentencing.

Campbell will be placed on probation for two years following his release from custody and is barred from attending the hardware store, and bank. He is also banned from possessing weapons for life and ordered to pay $1,000 in restitution to the bank.