Hatfields and McCoys don’t live in Cardigan

Dan Charles MacLellan and his son, Carter Douglas MacLellan, sent to jail

A vigilante moment in the dark hours before dawn last spring ended with a Cardigan father and son landing serious jail time in provincial court in Georgetown on Thursday. The pre-sentence report described the father and son in glowing terms, but a trail of vengeance that led to a fracas in a private home landed Dan Charles MacLellan in jail for one year and his son, Carter Douglas MacLellan, in jail for 10 months. “The days of the Hatfields and McCoys have long since passed,’’ said Judge Nancy Orr. “You should have called the police.” It all began May 8 when youngest son Charles returned to the MacLellan home in Cardigan from a party on St. Mary’s Road. He alleged he was “jumped”, smacked about, dropped his phone and had his hand broken. Instead of picking up the phone and calling police, 50year-old Dan and 20-year-old son Carter opted to retrieve the cell phone – even though it was almost 3 a.m. “What makes people who are stone cold sober go out in the middle of the night to retrieve a phone?” the judge mused.

The pair arrived at the residence, entered the house and met with four young men in their 20s who were the alleged attackers of Charles. A fight ensued in which Carter punched, dragged, and kicked all four victims while father Dan, court was told, did nothing to stop the altercation. The pre-sentence report had nothing but praise for both men as upstanding citizens, good work ethics and strong family connections.

“After reading the statement of facts and then the pre-sentence report, I couldn’t help but wonder if these were the same people,’’ said Judge Orr. “It makes absolutely no sense and you’ve put your family in great jeopardy having to go to jail.” Both men said they were remorseful over their poor judgement they made. They said they were vexed by the strain they’d placed on their loved ones, and should have allowed the police to take charge.

“You’re the father,’’ said Orr during her sentencing. “You should have stepped in to stop this…..vigilante justice won’t be tolerated.”