For his role in the violent robbery of a Haines Junction store, high-speed chase down the Alaska Highway, and shooting of an RCMP truck, Christopher Cornell has been sentenced to 11 1/2 years in prison.

He is now designated a long-term offender, and will be supervised for 10 years after his release, Justice Leigh Gower said in his decision Tuesday afternoon.

With credit given for the time 33-year-old Cornell has already spent in custody, he’ll serve eight years behind bars at a federal penitentiary.

While Crown and defence lawyers agreed on the sentence and the imposition of a long-term offender designation, they had different views on the appropriate term of supervision that accompanies that designation.

Crown prosecutor Keith Parkkari suggested the 10-year maximum, while Cornell’s lawyer, David Tarnow, advocated for a period of no longer than five years.

Forensic psychiatrist Dr. Shabehram Lohrasbe testified last week at Cornell’s two-day sentencing hearing that he was in favour of a longer supervision order, because it would provide more support.

Cornell can apply to have the order shortened if he’s doing well.

“Why would an LTSO of 10 years not be in Mr. Cornell’s best interest?” asked Gower.

Cornell was found guilty by a jury last fall of eight charges dating back to a September 2011 crime spree.

During that spree, he and his then-girlfriend Jessica Johnson broke into Madley’s General Store in Haines Junction, assaulted the custodian, attempted to steal the store’s safe, fled down the Alaska Highway, and shot at RCMP officer Cpl. Kim MacKellar and conservation officer Shane Oakley.

Those charges are:

• two counts of attempted murder of peace officers;

• using a firearm while escaping from a robbery;

• using violence and bear spray to commit robbery;

• shooting at a marked RCMP vehicle, knowing someone was in it;

• aggravated assault by wounding MacKellar;

• using bear spray to assault the custodian; and

• using violence against the custodian while stealing the store’s safe.

In his sentencing decision, Gower referred to Lohrasbe’s assessment, which involved an interview with Cornell.

Cornell exhibits anti-social behaviour and psychopathic personality disorder, Lohrasbe found, and may have attention deficit disorder.

His risk of reoffending is high, but if he participates in federal programming – like the high-intensity violent offenders and substance abuse programs – it’s possible he could be managed safely in the community.

Gower elaborated on Cornell’s upbringing and lengthy criminal history.

A member of the Kwanlin Dun First Nation, Cornell spent his early years with his grandparents near Marsh Lake because of his mother’s drinking.

His father, a residential school survivor, supported the family early on in Cornell’s life, but later turned to alcohol as well. He died earlier this year.

Cornell spent time in various foster and family members’ homes as he grew up, and started drinking and using marijuana when he was eight or nine.

He and his friends would steal from downtown stores and trade their goods for drugs or alcohol.

At family parties, alcohol would flow freely, and things would often get violent. Cornell has said that’s when he learned to carry a weapon for protection. It’s also when he started to resent authority figures.

His criminal record began in 1994. From then until April 2011, he racked up 39 convictions, including armed robbery in 2001 and another robbery six years later.

A report prepared by a Haines Junction youth worker for his 1994 sentencing hearing stated he was a bright teen, but he had a bad temper, was manipulative and prone to bullying, and showed little remorse.

Between the ages of 10 and 18, Cornell drank daily. Once he began to develop stomach ulcers, he stopped drinking and used drugs: marijuana, crack cocaine and heroin.

As part of his youth sentences, he attended a healing camp in Old Crow and a wilderness camp near Mayo.

He enjoyed being out on the land, but the latter experience was marred by a break and enter he committed with another boy at the Mayo school.

While in remand for a robbery in 2001, Cornell learned his pregnant girlfriend in B.C. had been beaten up and lost the baby.

He attempted to kill himself by slashing his inner arm with a razor blade.

Cornell was sentenced to his first penitentiary term in 2005. Though he was released on parole the following year, he breached his conditions within a week.

In 2007, within days of his release from prison, Cornell held up a convenience store while masked, carrying bear spray and a knife.

In April 2010, he and his then-girlfriend had a daughter, who’s now in the custody of Cornell’s mother.

He started dating Johnson shortly after his parole ended in July 2010. Both struggled with drug addiction, and began using using heroin, crack cocaine, and marijuana daily.

He returned to Whitehorse, and in a drug-related incident, was clubbed on the head and stabbed six times. His lung collapsed.

Cornell was prescribed morphine to deal with the pain, and subsequently became addicted to that.

Gower said Cornell admits he’s caused trouble at WCC, but says he has been discriminated against by certain guards.

He spent 284 days in solitary confinement out of the 27 months and 27 days he’s served in remand.

Eight to 15 years for the attempted murder of police officers is typical, Gower noted.

Taking into account Cornell’s Gladue report, a document prepared for aboriginal offenders, and the lengthy time period he spent in segregation, Gower gave Cornell 1 1/2 days’ credit for every day he’s served in pre-sentence custody.

Cornell also must give a DNA sample and is prohibited from owning firearms for life.