A young man has been sentenced to 18 months in jail for an act of violent vigilante justice in Burwash Landing last year.

Territorial court Judge Karen Ruddy handed down the punishment to Weldon Danroth, 23, in the wake of a break and enter incident which included assault causing bodily harm last August.

Danroth had pleaded guilty to both acts, which were carried out as a reprisal following a brutal assault on Danroth's friend in Burwash landing two days earlier.

The friend, Collin Johnson, told Danroth he had been attacked in his home by two armed men — Derek Johnson, 32, and Wilfred Sheldon, 38 — but would not report the matter to the RCMP, the judge said.

"In consequence, (Danroth) and Randy Johnson decided to take matters into their own hands and deal with ... Derek Johnson themselves,” Ruddy said in her decision.

The Star could not confirm the relationship between the three Johnsons.

In the early-morning hours of Aug. 10, 2013, Danroth and Randy, 25, went to Derek's house, broke down the door and attacked him with an aluminum baseball bat.

Derek, who was asleep when the assault began, suffered serious injuries which required a medevac from the community.

Burwash Landing has no RCMP detachment, the judge noted.

"(I)t appeared to Mr. Danroth and others, perhaps, that certain individuals had taken advantage of the situation to engage in a campaign of intimidation or victimization of other residents,” Ruddy said.

"In particular, Mr. Danroth believed Derek Johnson to be a bully, and Collin Johnson to be one of his victims who would not fight back, and as a result, the situation would not change.”

The judge said Danroth "will have to face the consequences of this incident alone.”

The charges against "his co-conspirator, Randy Johnson,” were stayed, meaning they could potentially be resurrected within a year.

On top of the 18-month jail sentence, Danroth faces a 10-year firearms ban upon release and a victim reconciliation process in consultation with the Kluane First Nation.

The judge said "vigilantism cannot be condoned,” whether in a large city or a community of fewer than 100 people, like Burwash Landing.

"I was informed that tragically, between last August and now, Collin Johnson has, in fact, taken his own life,” Ruddy noted.

Initial charges against Derek Johnson and Sheldon included discharging a firearm with intent, forcible confinement, assault with a weapon and assault causing bodily harm.