From Queen’s to York to prison

Shahroze Rauf | Assistant News Editor

Featured Image: After a violent robbery, a Queen’s student who spent a semester at York, is sent to jail. | Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

A Queen’s University student who finished his semester at York has been sent to prison for a violent robbery.

Andras Orioli, alongside Nicholas Kapogines, had a clean record until last February when the pair assaulted the tenant of a home near McBurney ‘Skeleton’ Park in Kingston and stole $250 worth of marijuana.

After the incident, Orioli was barred from the Queen’s campus, but still finished his semester at York, according to Orioli’s defence attorney, Anthony Paciocco.

“This is not who he is,” Paciocco told Justice Allan Letourneau in early December. “Not every athlete is a good person, but Mr. Orioli is. He’s got a life plan and lofty ambitions.”

The incident occurred when one of the tenants was at home with his girlfriend. According to Justice Letourneau, upon answering the door, the victim was doused with pepper spray, he then called out to his girlfriend, warning her to stay in the bedroom. She then called 911.

Afterwards, in a scuffle with one of the intruders, the victim was struck in the head with a crowbar. He called for help as a neighbour heard and was able to get a glimpse of the intruders, Orioli and Kapogines, escaping in a car. The neighbour was able to copy down their licence number, leading to the duo’s arrests.

In an impact statement by the victim, he described how the incident has plagued him with sleepless nights and panic attacks, as well as the “dense scars” on his head.

“The insurance barely covered any of the damage done,” the statement read, describing how he had to move out of his apartment where the incident took place.

However, students at York feel differently about how Orioli was allowed to finish his semester at York after being charged and arrested.

“The incident itself sounds very violent; he shouldn’t be allowed on any campus until he’s been through therapy or something. Sure, he’s in jail because he committed a crime, but that’s not addressing his initial motivation for committing the original crime in the first place,” says Roya Safi, a fourth-year social work student.

For now, through a plea deal between the Kingston Crown attorney’s office and lawyers representing the two accused, both students will each spend three years behind bars.

“It’s fascinating how impactful such a mistake can be. Doing something evil can become like a venom that affects everyone,” Orioli said to the judge after the victim impact statement was read, before apologizing to the victim in court.

Orioli received enhanced credit on the four days he spent in confinement after his immediate arrest following the incident. He will serve a total of 1,089 days.