While he’s likely to spend the rest of his remaining life behind bars for the killing of Clifford Joseph, Eric Wildman was sentenced to 10 years in prison for the attempted murder of an OPP officer in a Belleville court Friday March 7.

Mr. Wildman was before Justice Patrick Hurley via video link and declined to speak to the court prior to the sentence being handed down. Mr. Wildman was convicted by a jury in Picton’s Superior Court November 21 for shooting at OPP officers attempting to serve a Canada-wide Arrest warrant for his capture. Mr. Wildman fled Manitoba on June 16, 2021 after he was ordered to surrender to police in connection to the death of Clifford Joseph.

Instead, Mr. Wildman drove to the home of a family friend in Rednersville with a Glock pistol and ammunition. Mr. Wildman did not have permission to leave his home province with the weapon.

Mr. Wildman might have evaded capture longer had he not been spotted at a Rossmore auto garage, asking for directions.

After authorities confirmed the fugitive was at a Massassauga Road address, they sought and received a judicial warrant to arrest Mr. Wildman. At 3:06 a.m. on June 18, members of OPP attempted to enter the home only to be repulsed by Mr. Wildman who fired six shots in their direction.

The standoff would end peacefully later that morning when Mr. Wildman surrendered to authorities.

Crown Attorney Adam Zegouras and defence counsel Peter Zaduk offered a joint submission on sentencing for both the attempted murder charge and a firearms offence. Justice Hurley accepted the joint submission and lauded the OPP’s effort in resolving the standoff without bloodshed.

His honour also drew from OPP Constable Adam McFadden’s Victim Impact statement which was submitted prior to sentencing. Constable McFadden was the point person in the attempted breach of the home and was in the line of Mr. Wildman’s fire.

Justice Hurley said police were tasked with arresting a dangerous person that morning and did so in accordance with judicial procedures and guidelines. He added Constable McFadden would have been justified with returning fire in the direction of Mr. Wildman but showed incredible presence of mind and restraint in a chaotic situation.

“Eric Wildman quite likely would have been mortally wounded and there wouldn’t have been a trial,” His Justice offered.

By his judgement, Justice Hurley said the OPP Tactical Response Unit served the public incredibly well that day and deserve high commendation for their efforts in arresting Mr. Wildman peacefully.

In his statement, Constable McFadden admitted the shooting has negatively impacted him personally but it also strengthened the 16-year veteran’s resolve to continue to serve his community which Justice Hurley was thankful for.

Mr. Wildman is expected to be sentenced in Winnipeg’s Superior Court later this spring to a mandatory life sentence without the possibility of parole for 25 years. The Ontario sentence will run concurrent to the sentence he receives for the killing of Mr. Joseph.