Meth Addict on The Run (Calgary) – Warrant

Charges:
CC: s.334(B) – Theft Under $5000 x 5; s.145(5) – Fail to Attend for Identification x 3; s.145(2)(A) – Fail to Attend Court x 4; s.341 – Fraudulent Concealment of Merchandise; s.403(1)(A) – Impersonation; s.129(A) – Obstructing a Police Officer; CDSA: s.4(1) – Possession of a Controlled Substance (Meth) x 2.

Allegations:
My client stole numerous items from stores, numerous times, worth thousands of dollars; she lied about name; failed to attend for fingerprints and failed to attend court several times, and was found to be in possession of crystal meth a couple of times.

Result:
I had negotiated a deal, whereby my client would plead to some of the offences, be placed on probation for 2 years (for treatment), and all other charges would be withdrawn. However, she didn’t show up at her sentencing hearing, and warrants issued for her arrest – again.

Charges:
CC: s.266 – Assault, s.811 – Fail to Comply with Peace Bond

Allegations:
My client was bound by conditions of a Peace Bond, relating to a prior assault upon his wife, when he assaulted her again, thereby breaching his conditions.  At 2:00 am, one morning, my client returned to his residence, intoxicated, after a night out with friends at a strip club.  His wife got angry with him and the argument escalated to the point where my client smashed his phone on the floor, then grabbed her by the throat and began choking her, while he cursed and insulted her.  He took their money and told her he was leaving her.  She said she was going to call the police.  He told her if she called the police, she would never see him again.

Result:
Charges Withdrawn.  My client received a Conditional Discharge.

Charges:
CC: s.264.1(1)(A) – Uttering Threats; s.266 – Assault. s.145(3) – Fail to Comply with Recognizance.

Allegations:
My client’s wife came home from work to find him passed out on the couch and her vehicle damaged.  She woke him and asked him for her vehicle keys.  He flew into a rage and, while searching for her keys, yelled and swore at her, saying that he was going to kill her.  After finding her keys, he threw them hard at her. My client is a recovering heroin addict and his wife is afraid of him and fears for their daughter’s safety. Police seized 8 firearms, assorted ammunition, 2 bows and 3 boxes of arrows. A warrant issued for his arrest.  He showed up to the police station, extremely intoxicated and belligerent, trying to record the conversation, and arguing with everyone. He later breached his release conditions by contacting his wife.

Result:
Charges Withdrawn.  Resolved with a Peace Bond.

Charge(s):

CC: s.266 x 2 – Assault, s.264.1(1)(a) x 2 – Uttering Threats, s.267(a) – Assault with a Weapon, s.88(1) – Possession of a Weapon for a Dangerous Purpose, s.145(5) x 2 – Failing to Attend Court

Allegations:

My client was accused of inflicting harm on his wife on several occasions within the past eight years of their marriage. On one occasion, he threw a telephone at her, causing bruising and swelling to her hand. On another occasion, he hit her with a garbage can in the face and almost broke her nose. She lied to the hospital staff about what happened. After completing a 14-week domestic violence course, earlier charges were withdrawn. A few years later, following a heated argument, my client threw his wife down on their bed and held her down, threatening to kick out her teeth and shove a boot up her @%%. When she tried to leave, he body checked her into the wall and then left. One month later, again during a heated argument, while my client was verbally abusing his wife, she tried to calm him down by hugging him, he threw her down on the couch and held her down for about one minute, making threatening remarks, then lifted her off the couch, tearing her night gown in the process, and walked away into the kitchen. She followed him. He grabbed a hammer off the counter, pointed it at her and said: “I will break every bone in your body,” then hit a kettle with the hammer. She ran upstairs and locked herself in a room with their two small children and called police. She had visible bruising to her neck area. After being arrested and released, my client failed to attend court on two separate occasions.

Result:

Since he had already been given the benefit of a peace bond, that option was not available, so I negotiated a plea deal where my client would plead guilty to only one charge of assault. Instead of jail, my client received a suspended sentence, and probation for one year, with one condition that he participate in domestic violence counseling. All other charges were withdrawn.

Charge(s):

CC: s.267(a) – Assault with a Weapon, s.430(1)(a) – Mischief, s.129(a) – Resisting Arrest, s.264(2)(b) – Criminal Harrassment (repeated communication), s.264(2)(c) – Criminal Harrassment (besetting dwelling house)

Allegations:

My client and his wife had recently separated and he was having great difficulty accepting their failing relationship. While picking up some personal items, that his wife left for him, he saw her in the parking lot with their two kids. She was with her friend and her two small children too. He approached them and attempted to persuade her into reconciling their relationship. She was not interested and refused to listen to him. He became enraged and started yelling at her, forcing her and her friend and the four children to lock themselves inside the vehicle as they feared for their safety. He went to his vehicle and retrieved a tire iron, returned to her vehicle and smashed her driver’s side glass, causing minor injuries to her left arm. He fled the scene prior to police arrival, yelling to her that he would return and cause further damages to her vehicle. A warrant issued for his arrest, as his whereabouts remained unknown.His wife soon after obtained an Emergency Protection Order against my client.Three weeks later, my client attended at his wife’s residence again. She called 911, while he was at her front door, trying to talk to her and gain access inside her apartment. She barricaded the door with a dresser and took her children to a safe room. She was ferful for her safety and for the safety of her children. Police located my client inside the stairwell to the building and advised him that he was under arrest. He provided police with a different name and then tried to escape by pushing his way past the offciers and run down the stairs. He was taken into custody and handcuffed.

Result:

I persuaded the Crown to withdraw the assault with a weapon charge, in exchange for guilty pleas to the charges of mischief, resisting arrest and one count of harrassment. Given my client’s fragile emotional state, I requested a Pre-Sentence Report, as well as a Psychological Assessment. Neither report was prepared in time for the sentencing, so ratehr than adjourning, we proceeded without them. By way of penatly, he received a suspended sentence and a period of probation for 18 months, with conditions that he attend for assessment and counseling as directed in order to assist him in coming to terms with the probems in his life.