Sexual Assault and Impaired Driving Charges Withdrawn
Sexual Assault and Impaired Driving Charges Withdrawn
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Charge(s):
CC: s.271 x 2 – Sexual Assault, s.253(a)
Allegations:
My client, after consuming an inordinate amount of alcohol, sexually assaulted some girls while dancing at a bar. Their boyfriends then tried to instigate a fight with him. He left the bar and attempted to drive away in his vehicle, but was prevented from doing so by an angry mob.
Result:
I negotiated a deal whereby he entered pleas of guilty to committing an “indecent act,” instead of sexual assault, and the Crown withdrew both impaired, care/control charges. By way of penalty, he received a conditional discharge. No criminal convictions.
Three-Time Drunk Driver Causing Two Accidents Avoids Jail
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Charge(s):
CC: s.253(1)(a) x 2 – Impaired Driving, s.254(5) x 2 – Refusal to Provide a Breath Sample, s.145(5) – Fail to Attend to Identification, s.145(5) – Fail to Attend Court
Allegations:
While driving under the influence of alchol, my client was reported by witnesses to be driving erratically on McNight Blvd. weaving through traffic, trying to squeeze in between two cars and eventually colliding into the rear of another vehicle. My client then tried to drive away, but hit the other car again. The driver of the other vechile wrestled the keys out of my client’s ignition, as he believed my client to be drunk. Police arrived while EMS were attending to my client. Upon opening the side door to the ambulance, my client tried to grab a hold of the police officer’s duty belt. The officer my client reeked of alcohol and had a blank stare through glossy eyes. My client stumbled out of the ambulance, losing his balance. After placing my client under arrest, and making a breath demand, my client replied: “owwwwweeeee!” (howling like a wolf). He then told the officer that he loved him and wanted a hug, stating: “we don’t need the police.”. He was staggering, slurring and mumbling incoherent words, was repeatedly falling asleep while officers were dealing with him. He evenutally fell to the floor of his cell and passed out. A couple of months later, he failed to attend for fingerprinting and later failed to attend court as well, so warrants issued for his arrest.One year later, while driving under the influence again, my client failed to stop at a red light and collided with the rear of a van. He exited his veichle and began yelling at the female driver of the van. Upon arrival at the scene, police noted that my client was having difficulty handling his documents, was extremely unsteady on his feet and almost tripped over backwards while trying to pick up his dropped registration. He had red, glassy eyes and a strong smell of alcohol coming from his breath. Again, he refused to provide a breath sample. Police also found a crack pipe in his pocket.
Result:
My client pleaded guilty to two of the impaired charges and failing to attend court. The other charges were withdrawn. He had a prior conviction on his record for impaired driving and failing to stop at the scene of an accident. However, the Crown did not rely upon these convictions to seek a greater punishment. Nonetheless, he ought to have received a sentence involving a minimum term of imprisonment of 30 days. However, I argued a technical legal principle from the Supreme Court and the Court did not impose any jail. Instead, my client was ordered to pay a total of $3600 in fines, with 16 months time to pay.
No Jail for Extremely Drunk Driver Failing to Stop for Police & FTAC
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Charge(s):
CC: s.253(1)(b) – Driving with blood/alcohol content over .80%, s.253(1)(a) – Impaired Driving, s.249.1(1) – Fail to Stop while being Pursued by a Peace Officer, s.145(5) – Fail to Attend Court
Allegations:
My client was travelling, at speeds exceeding 150 kms/hr, down Deerfoot Trail. The police pursued him with lights flashing and horns blaring. My client appeared to slow down as though to pull over, but continued and appeared to accelerate. It took the police a while to finally get him to pull over. He appeared to be extremely intoxicated. He blew three times over the legal limit. There were two passengers in his vehicle. He subsequently failed to attend court and a warrant for his arrest issued.
Result:
The Crown was seeking a period of incarceration. I tendered pleas of “not guilty” and scheduled the matter for trial, on the basis of significant triable issues. Prior to the trial date, the Crown agreed to accept a guilty plea to only the over .80% charge and to withdraw all other charges. Given all of the aggravating factors, he received a fine of $2500. No jail.
Drunk Driver Avoids Jail Again
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Charge(s):
CC: s.254(2) – Refusal to Comply with a Breath Demand, s.259(4) – Drive While Disqualified, s.145(2)(a) x 2 – Fail to Attend Court
Allegations:
My client was pulled over after being observed pulling out of the parking lot of a bar at 2:30am, with a car full of drunk people. Her licence was suspended 3 months earlier for impaired driving conviction. She refused to provide a sample of her breath into a roadside screening device. She then failed to attend court twice.
Result:
On the day of trial, the Crown agreed to withdraw the refusal charge. My client pleaded guilty to driving while disqualified and one failure to attend court charge. The Crown was seeking 2 months jail. Instead, my client received fines totaling $850, with 8 months time to pay. No jail time.
Repeat Suspended Driver Gets 14 days
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Charge(s):
CC: s.249(4) – Drive while Disqualified, TSA: s.94(2) – Drive while Unauthorized, CC: s.145(5) – Fail to Attend Court.
Allegations:
My client’s licence was suspended for an impaired conviction. A few months later, he was caught driving again. He had a long and related record, meaning that he has done this before. The Crown was initially seeking a period of jail for 30-60 days.
Result:
He received a sentence of 14 days, which he was able to serve on weekends only. That way, he could maintain his employment and not suffer any financial prejudice.
