This is the latest court report for Kings and West Hants counties.
Jail time for multiple offences
Christopher Arthur Andrews, 47, of Meadowvale, has been sentenced to jail time after pleading guilty to six counts of stealing groceries from the Atlantic Superstore; stealing groceries from Sobeys, stealing property from Walmart, two counts of failing to comply with probation and failing to attend court as directed by a judge.
Andrews was present in Kentville provincial court in custody on March 19, when he pleaded guilty to the charges. In relation to the charge of failing to attend court as directed, Andrews was given credit at time and a half for seven days spent remanded in custody, equaling 11 days.
After taking the remand credit into account, Judge Ronda Van Der Hoek sentenced Andrews to a total of 121 days in custody on the 11 charges, to be followed by one year of reporting probation.
Andrews committed the offences in Kingston on April 4, May 22, June 11 and July 13, 2018, and on Feb. 23, 2019; in Kentville on July 17, 2018, and in Greenwood on March 13 and Aug. 3, 2018.
Several other charges, including seven more counts of failing to comply with probation and a charge of failing to attend court in accordance with a Promise to Appear in which he had been named, were withdrawn on March 19.
Fined for impaired operation
Richard Dean Nichols, 50, of Avondale, has been fined for having a blood alcohol concentration equal to or exceeding the legal limit within two hours of ceasing to operate a conveyance.
Nichols pleaded guilty to the charge on March 19. Judge Christopher Manning fined Nichols a total of $1,100 and imposed a one-year driving prohibition against him.
Nichols committed the offence in Centre Burlington on Dec. 28, 2018. The legal blood alcohol limit is 80 mg of alcohol in 100 ml of blood. Nichols gave breathalyser readings of 120 and 110.
A charge of operating a conveyance while his ability to operate it was impaired to any degree by alcohol was withdrawn on March 19.
Fined for mischief
Jeffrey Aubrey Blake Melvin, 24, of Canning, has been fined for committing mischief by willfully damaging the passenger door of a Ford Fiesta to a value not exceeding $5,000.
Melvin changed his plea to guilty on Jan. 8 and the matter was adjourned to March 20 to allow time for a pre-sentence report to be prepared and for sentencing. Judge Ronda Van Der Hoek fined Melvin a total of $200.
Melvin committed the offence in North Kentville on June 12, 2018. A charge of assault was dismissed on March 20 with the Crown offering no evidence.
Stole from stores
Travis John Acker, 28, of Greenwood, has been handed a suspended sentence with probation for stealing meat products from the Kingston Atlantic Superstore and for stealing property of a value not exceeding $5,000 from the New Minas Atlantic Superstore.
Acker pleaded guilty to the charges on Nov. 15, 2017. On March 20, Judge Ronda Van Der Hoek handed Acker a suspended sentence with four months of reporting probation on the two charges.
Acker committed the offences in Kingston on June 14, 2016, and in New Minas on Sept. 24, 2016.
Suspended sentence with probation
Matthew Basil Whitford, 25, of North Kentville, has been handed a suspended sentence with probation for failing to comply with probation, failing to comply with his undertaking by failing to abstain from the consumption of alcohol or non-medically prescribed drugs and committing mischief by willfully damaging the exterior of a vehicle.
Whitford changed his pleas to guilty on Jan. 8 and the matters were adjourned to March 21 to allow time for a pre-sentence report to be prepared and for sentencing.
Judge Ronda Van Der Hoek handed Whitford a suspended sentence with one year of reporting probation on the three charges, including 20 hours of community service work.
Whitford committed the offences in North Kentville on June 3, 2018. A charge of assault was withdrawn on March 21.
Probation offence
Colton Leigh Thibault, 23, of Mount Pleasant, Digby County, has been sentenced to time deemed served and probation for failing to comply with probation.
Thibault changed his plea to guilty on March 21. Judge Ronda Van Der Hoek sentenced Thibault to one day in custody deemed served and one year of reporting probation.
Thibault committed the offence in Greenwood on Sept. 14, 2018. A charge of willfully damaging property to a value not exceeding $5,000 was dismissed on March 21 with the Crown offering no evidence.
