(Dreamstime)

By Sheldon Spackman

February 2025 Incident

Central Alberta man sentenced in kidnapping with firearm incident

Dec 22, 2025 | 4:03 PM

A central Alberta man has been sentenced to nearly three-and-a-half years in jail for his part in a kidnapping with a firearm incident this year.

Clarence William Northwest, 36, a resident of Samson Cree Nation, was sentenced in Wetaskiwin Court of Justice on Dec. 18, 2025, after pleading guilty to counts of discharge firearm with intent, and possession of a prohibited firearm. Six other charges against him were withdrawn.

Northwest was also given a firearm prohibition, along with his global sentence of 1,260 days in jail. Northwest, however, was given 447 days credit for time already served, leaving him with 813 days or over two years still to serve as of his sentencing date.

Co-accused Chevez Louis, 19, also a resident of Samson Cree Nation, had all 12 charges against him withdrawn on Oct. 7, 2025.

A second co-accused, Silas Soosay, 26, a resident of Samson Cree Nation, was sentenced in Wetaskiwin Court of Justice on July 28, 2025, to 240 days in jail after pleading guilty to three counts, including kidnapping with a firearm, possession of a firearm/weapon in a vehicle, and assault. He was also given a firearm prohibition.

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Soosay was given credit for 69 days in custody, leaving him with 171 days or just under six months left to serve. Two other counts of pointing a firearm, and unauthorized possession of a firearm were withdrawn.

Mounties say the incident occurred in the Maskwacis area on Feb. 24, 2025.

That evening, RCMP report they were called to assist Emergency Medical Services (EMS) on Samson Cree Nation with a male who had a gunshot wound.

When officers arrived, they determined the victim had allegedly been kidnapped and tied to a chair in the basement of a residence, as well as beaten and shot.

Maskwacis RCMP, an RCMP police helicopter and Police Dog Services were deployed and found three suspects who were then arrested. Officers also executed three search warrants and recovered a firearm suspected to be used in the offence.

As a result, three residents of Samson Cree Nation were charged.

Mounties say all three suspects were taken before a justice of the peace and remanded into custody following the incident.

Related: One of three charged in alleged kidnapping with firearm incident sentenced to eight months

Related: Trial scheduled for third man charged in alleged kidnapping with firearm incident

Related: Trial date set for second of three charged in kidnapping with a firearm incident

Related: Trial date set in alleged kidnapping with a firearm incident

Related: Three charged in alleged kidnapping with firearm