This is the latest court report for Kings and West Hants counties.
Federal time for multiple offences
Dennis Cecil Francis Johnson, 55, of Dartmouth, has been handed a global sentence of in excess of two years in custody on 14 charges.
On Dec. 12, Johnson pleaded guilty or changed his pleas to guilty to two counts of stealing property from the New Minas Atlantic Superstore; stealing power tools from the New Minas Home Depot, two counts of possessing a stolen Nova Scotia licence plate, two counts of stealing property from the Kingston Atlantic Superstore, two counts of stealing property from the Windsor Atlantic Superstore, stealing property from the Greenwood Canadian Tire, stealing a Husqvarna chainsaw from the New Minas Canadian Tire, stealing property from the Greenwood Walmart, stealing a food mixer and a chainsaw from the Cookville Canadian Tire and operating a motor vehicle in a manner dangerous to the public in a parking lot and on a highway. All the stealing charges involved property of a value not exceeding $5,000.
Judge Christopher Manning sentenced Johnson to a total of 27 months in custody on the 14 charges. The court granted several standalone restitution orders, including $64.99 to the New Minas Superstore; $2,400 to the New Minas Home Depot, $366.11 to the Windsor Superstore, $1,668.96 to the Greenwood Canadian Tire, $1,598.44 to the Kingston Superstore, $1,169.24 to the Greenwood Walmart and $1,199.98 to the Cookville Canadian Tire.
Johnson committed the offences between April 10 and July 4, 2017. Several other charges were dismissed on Dec. 12, including two counts of operating a motor vehicle while disqualified, another count of stealing power tools from Home Depot and using a weapon - a vehicle - in committing an assault.
Custody for various offences
Michael Anthony Brown, 41, of Kentville, has been sentenced to jail time for a variety of offences, including stealing a 50-inch flat screen TV from the Atlantic Superstore; two counts of stealing groceries from the Atlantic Superstore, stealing property from Cleve’s Source for Sports, stealing property from Kent Building Supplies, three counts of stealing property from Walmart, committing mischief by willfully damaging the property of Beaton Properties, using a forged document – a stolen cheque – as if it were genuine, stealing car tires from Canadian Tire and two counts of failing to comply with his undertaking. All the stealing charges involved property of a value not exceeding $5,000.
Brown pleaded guilty to the 13 charges on Dec. 11. Judge Christopher Manning sentenced Brown to a total of 180 days in custody. Brown was given 54 days credit for 36 days spent remanded in custody, leaving 126 days for Brown to serve. Brown was also sentenced to 15 months of reporting probation and was fined a total of $1,300 in victim surcharges.
The court granted three standalone restitution orders, for $289 payable to Kent Building Supplies; for $249 payable to Walmart and for $860.45 payable to Money Mart.
Brown committed the offences in New Minas on Feb. 15, March 10, 22, and 31, Aug. 27, Sept. 10 and 19, Oct. 3, 19 and 29; and in Kentville on Oct. 20. Several other charges were withdrawn on Dec. 11, including two counts of possession of stolen property of a value not exceeding $5,000 and defrauding Money Mart of a value not exceeding $5,000.
Suspended sentence for various offences
Richard James MacDonald, 55, of Newport Station, has been handed a suspended sentence with probation for assault, criminal harassment and two counts of failing to comply with his undertaking.
MacDonald changed his pleas to guilty to the assault and criminal harassment charges and pleaded guilty to one count of failing to comply with his undertaking on Sept. 14. The matters were adjourned to allow time for a pre-sentence report to be prepared and for sentencing. MacDonald pleaded guilty to the second count of failing to comply with his undertaking prior to his sentencing on Dec. 10. MacDonald was handed a suspended sentence with one year of probation on the four charges.
MacDonald committed the offences in Newport Station between Oct. 1 and Dec. 20, 2017; on March 10, 2018, between July 17 and Aug. 7, 2018; and in Windsor on Aug. 3.
Several other charges were dismissed or withdrawn on Dec. 10, including another count of assault; failing to comply with probation, sexual assault, attempting to choke an individual with his hands with intent to enable himself to commit the indictable offence of assault, another count of failing to comply with his undertaking and failing to comply with an order made by a judge to have no communication with an individual.
Failed to attend court, drug possession
Kevin Travis Harris, 22, of Kentville, has been fined for failing to attend court as required by a judge and unlawfully possessing cocaine.
Harris changed his plea to guilty to the charge of failing to attend court on Dec. 11. He was originally charged with unlawfully possessing cocaine for the purpose of trafficking but pleaded guilty to the lesser, included offence of possession on Dec. 11.
Judge Christopher Manning fined Harris a total of $130 for failing to attend court and fined him a total of $1,300 for unlawfully possession cocaine.
Harris committed the offences in Kentville on Dec. 19, 2017, and on April 23, 2018.
Suspended sentence for stealing property
Lee Mosher Kelly, a.k.a. Lea Ashley Kelly, has been handed a suspended sentence with probation for stealing bottles of alcohol from the Brooklyn Petro Canada and stealing an air compressor and tire repair kit from Home Hardware.
Kelly pleaded guilty to the charges on Dec. 11. Judge Ronda Van Der Hoek handed Kelly a suspended sentence with 12 months of reporting probation on the two charges, including 10 hours of community service work. The court granted two standalone restitution orders, for $137.97 payable to Windsor Home Hardware and for $180.97 payable to the Brooklyn Petro Canada.
Kelly committed the offences in Brooklyn on Feb. 26 and in Windsor on Sept. 24.
Possessed prohibited weapon
Zachary Jordell Grosse, 23, of Lake Loon, has been handed a conditional discharge with probation for possessing a prohibited weapon.
Grosse changed his plea to guilty on Dec. 12. Judge Christopher Manning handed Grosse a conditional discharge with nine months of probation. The court imposed a 10-year firearm prohibition against Grosse and granted a forfeiture order for the weapon, a pair of brass knuckles.
Grosse committed the offence in Kentville on April 28. Charges of unlawfully possessing cocaine for the purpose of trafficking and possessing a restricted weapon were dismissed on Dec. 12.
A co-accused on the charges of possession for the purpose of trafficking, possessing a restricted weapon and possessing a prohibited weapon, Blake Stymest, 33, of Westville, was not present in Kentville provincial court on Dec. 12. An application from his defence lawyer, Brian Vardigans, to withdraw was granted and a warrant was granted for Stymest’s arrest.
Stymest also faces several other charges, including another count of possessing a restricted weapon; possessing a weapon for a purpose dangerous to the public peace, unlawfully possessing crystal meth, another charge of possessing cocaine for the purpose of trafficking and a charge of possessing a restricted or prohibited weapon without holding a registration certificate. The charges have not been proven in court.
Conditional discharge for assault
Lambert Joseph Roy, 37, of Falmouth, has been handed a conditional discharge with probation for committing an assault.
Roy changed his plea to guilty on Sept. 10 and the matter was adjourned to allow time for a pre-sentence report to be prepared and for sentencing. On Dec. 11, Judge Ronda Van Der Hoek handed Roy a conditional discharge with 12 months of probation and fined him $100 in victim surcharges.
Roy committed the offence in Falmouth on March 5.
Conditional discharge for assault
Patrick Cantieni, 41, of Grand Pre, has been handed a conditional discharge with probation for committing an assault.
Cantieni changed his plea to guilty on Oct. 24 and the matter was adjourned to Dec. 12 for sentencing. Judge Christopher Manning handed Cantieni a conditional discharge with nine months of probation.
Cantieni committed the offence in Grand Pre on June 25. A charge of using a weapon – clothing - in committing an assault was dismissed on Dec. 12.
