Canada-wide bench warrant issued
A Canada-wide bench warrant has been issued for an Edmonton, Alberta, man accused of sexual assault and sexual touching involving an underage girl in Kentville.
It’s alleged that Reid John Westhaver, 30, committed the offences in Kentville on Jan. 25, 2008. The accused was not present in court on Feb. 16, 2009. Judge Claudine MacDonald authorized a warrant for his arrest. All peace officers in Nova Scotia were ordered to arrest and bring the accused before the provincial court in Kentville to be dealt with according to the law.
On May 24, Supreme Court Judge Gregory Warner ordered that the warrant of arrest issued by MacDonald in 2009 be authorized to be executed anywhere in Canada.
Alberta man to stand trial on sex charges
Christopher Michael Casey, 34, of Lloydminster, Alberta, will stand trial next year on three sex-related charges involving an underage girl.
Casey is charged with sexual assault, sexually touching a person under 14 years of age with his penis and invitation to sexual touching involving a person under age 14.
Casey was not present in Kentville provincial court on May 23, having earlier filed designation of counsel allowing his lawyer, Robert Stewart, to appear on his behalf.
Not guilty pleas were entered to the charges. Casey has elected trial by provincial court judge. The matters have been adjourned to Jan. 22, 2018, for trial.
It’s alleged that Casey committed the offences in Kingston between Jan. 5, 2001, and April 16, 2003. The charges have not been proven in court. The identity of the alleged victim is protected by a publication ban.
Breathalyser offences
Randolph Gerald Saunders, 53, of Newport, has been fined for having care or control of a motor vehicle while his blood alcohol level exceeded the legal limit.
Saunders pleaded guilty to the charge on May 23. Judge Alan Tufts fined him a total of $1,430, imposed a one-year driving prohibition against him and sentenced him to 12 months of reporting probation.
Saunders committed the offence in Cambridge, Kings County, on April 1. The legal blood alcohol limit is 80 mg of alcohol in 100 ml of blood. Saunders gave breathalyser readings of 230 and 230.
Vernon Robert Brannen, 58, of Kentville, has been fined for operating a motor vehicle while his blood alcohol level exceeded the legal limit.
Brannen pleaded guilty to the charge on May 23. Judge Alan Tufts fined him a total of $1,300 and imposed a one-year driving prohibition against him.
Brannen committed the offence in Kentville on March 31. The legal blood alcohol limit is 80 mg of alcohol in 100 ml of blood. Brannen gave breathalyser readings of 110 and 110.
Anthony Robert Comeau, 40, of Centreville, has been fined for operating an off-highway vehicle while his blood alcohol level exceeded the legal limit.
Comeau pleaded guilty to the charge on May 23. Judge Alan Tufts fined Comeau a total of $1,300 and imposed a one-year driving prohibition against him.
Comeau committed the offence in Centreville on March 18. The legal blood alcohol limit is 80 mg of alcohol in 100 ml of blood. Comeau gave breathalyser readings of 130 and 120.
Fined for impaired driving
Lori Ann Turner, 46, of Hantsport, has been fined for operating a motor vehicle while her ability to do so was impaired by alcohol.
Turner changed her plea to guilty on May 23. Judge Ronda Van Der Hoek fined Turner a total of $1,300 and imposed a one-year driving prohibition against her.
Turner committed the offence in Bishopville on July 24, 2016. The legal blood alcohol limit is 80 mg of alcohol in 100 ml of blood. Turner’s blood alcohol readings were not available.
Conditional discharge for stealing property
Madison Joseph Davidson, 23, of Welch Road, Kings County, has been handed a conditional discharge with probation for stealing property valued at less than $5,000 from the Atlantic Superstore.
Davidson pleaded guilty to the charge on May 23. Judge Alan Tufts handed Davidson a conditional discharge with three months of probation, including $90 in restitution to the Atlantic Superstore. Davidson was fined $100 in victim surcharges.
Davidson committed the offence in New Minas on Dec. 13, 2013.
Breached peace bond, uttered threat
Mark Leroy Toney, 56, of Cambridge, has been handed a suspended sentence with probation for breaching a peace bond recognizance and uttering a threat to cause bodily harm.
Toney pleaded not guilty to the charges in April 2016. He stood trial on April 20, 2017, and Judge Claudine MacDonald found him guilty on both counts. The matters were adjourned to May 24 to allow time for a pre-sentence report to be prepared and for sentencing.
Toney was handed a suspended sentence with 18 months of probation and was fined a total of $200 in victim surcharges. The court granted a five-year firearm prohibition against Toney, with an exception for the purpose of sustenance.
Toney committed the offences in Cambridge on Jan. 25, 2016. A charge of uttering a threat to cause bodily harm or death and another count of breaching a peace bond recognizance were dismissed on April 20.
