(Ashton Larmond, above. File photo)
Kenneth Jackson
APTN National News
While on statutory release for a nearly six-year federal sentence for robbing banks the father of two Algonquin men in Ottawa charged with terrorism offences is back in custody after admitting to illegally taking morphine.
When asked why he would break his parole, Anthony Larmond, 48, said the stress of his sons’ terrorism charges was, in part, too much to handle.
“You admitted to your case management team that you had bought and used a hydro-morphine pill, as you were feeling alone, under stress due to your sons’ serious criminal activity and bored due to reduced working hours,” says Larmond’s parole documents dated June 24.
Larmond is the father of Carlos and Ashton Larmond, 24, who were both charged by the RCMP in January for wanting to fly overseas and join the terrorist group ISIS. They claim to have converted to Islam several years ago.
They’ve been locked up at the local Ottawa jail since their arrests.
APTN previously reported in February the twins claim to be Algonquin, but it wasn’t immediately known what First Nation they were from.
APTN has now learned they have cards saying they belong to the Bonnechere Algonquin First Nation.
Bonnechere is one of several non-status Algonquin First Nation’s in the Ottawa area, under the Algonquins of Ontario banner, negotiating with the federal government for land and title rights.
APTN was told the twins have cards, along with identification numbers, from the band, currently located in Renfrew, Ont. about 100 km west of Ottawa.
It’s not believed either has status, but were in the process of applying in February.
Bonnechere Chief Richard Zohr was contacted by APTN but he wasn’t able to provide any information.
According to Bonnechere’s website, it has 1,200 members with an “in depth history of its community dating back to the early 1600s.”
Their father is a career criminal who has struggled with addictions.
Anthony Larmond is on his forth federal sentence.
His past offences include 74 property related convictions and 55 breaches.
His latest breach happened March 24, about a week after the parole board removed a condition that he reside a halfway house in Toronto. He was supposed to move into a Toronto community housing unit.
“Your criminal history includes three previous federal sentences, for robberies, assaults and property offences, and you have breached your conditions or re-offended while on each release,” the parole board said.
His current sentence is for robbing two banks for about $7,000 with his girlfriend to buy drugs in 2009.
APTN spoke to Anthony Larmond in February.
“I developed a drug habit and became institutionalized at a very young age,” he said, adding he was ‘strung out and at the end (his) rope’ when he robbed the banks.
As for life on the outside, he said he was struggling.
“It’s not so bad when I’m working but it’s hard on the weekends,” he said.
He defended his sons’ who he said get their Algonquin lineage from his side of the family.
“They just wanted to go over there to (a) Muslim school to learn more about the Quran,” he said. “They told me they had no intention on joining ISIS.”
The twin’s lived with their grandmother, Anthony’s mom, in Ottawa. He would call there from prison, or at the halfway house, and sometimes speak to them, he said.
“Maybe some Native teaching will draw them away from Islam a bit,” he said at the time.
APTN also previously reported the twins say they’re “proud” of being Algonquin but were refusing to participate in any Aboriginal cultural activities while in custody.
It’s believed the twins are the first Aboriginal people in Canada to be charged with terrorism-related offences.
Anthony Larmond must reside at the Toronto halfway house until his full sentence expires in November.
