Coutts protester Anthony Olienick granted bail pending results of his appeal

The last truck blocking the southbound lane moves after a breakthrough to resolve the impasse at a protest blockade at the United States border in Coutts, Alta., Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh

After four years behind bars, one of the men convicted of mischief and firearms violations in connection with the 2022 Coutts, Alta., border blockade is being released from prison.

Anthony Olienick was sentenced in September 2024 for his role in the protest that blocked traffic at the Canada-U.S. border crossing in 2022 for approximately two weeks.

He was found guilty alongside another man, Chris Carbert, after RCMP found them in possession of guns, ammunition and body armour that was stashed inside trailers set up at the blockade.

During the trial, the men said they were taking a necessary stand against potential tyranny and injustice.

They were each sentenced to 6 1/2 years.

The jury found them not guilty on a charge of conspiring to kill RCMP officers.

Both men appealed their sentences last September but no decision has been released by the Alberta Court of Appeal.

Olienick appealed his convictions for possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose and possessing a pipe bomb.

But Olienick’s lawyer says his client received some favourable news on Monday.

“His conviction appeal has been argued and is on reserve,” lawyer Brendan Miller told The Canadian Press.

“He’s released until the sentencing appeal is decided in the event he loses the appeal of his conviction.”

Miller said his client was denied full and day parole earlier this month but is eligible for statutory release in June.

Olienick had been in jail since his arrest in February 2022.

Carbert was freed on bail pending the results of his appeals last June.

The Coutts blockade was one of several held across the country to protest COVID-19 rules and vaccine mandates.

Bill Graveland, The Canadian Press