This is the latest court report for Kings and West Hants counties.
Assault with weapon
Chris Elson, 41, of New Minas, has been handed a conditional discharge with probation for committing an assault with a weapon, a broom handle.
Elson pleaded guilty to the charge on Aug. 14 and the matter was adjourned to Oct. 1 to allow time for a pre-sentence report to be prepared and for sentencing. Judge Ronda Van Der Hoek handed Elson a conditional discharge with 12 months of probation and fined him $100 in victim surcharges.
Elson committed the offence in New Minas on June 28. Charges of using a weapon – a piece of glass – in committing an assault and uttering a death threat were withdrawn on Oct. 1.
Curative treatment discharge
Gregory Cameron Lightfoot, 28, of New Minas, has been handed a curative treatment conditional discharge for operating a motor vehicle while his blood alcohol level exceeded the legal limit.
Lightfoot pleaded guilty to the charge in March and the Crown filed notice of increased penalty. The court imposed a two-year driving prohibition against Lightfoot, with eligibility for the ignition interlock device program after six months. The matter was adjourned to allow time for a pre-sentence report to be prepared and for sentencing.
On Oct. 1, with the Crown’s consent, Judge Ronda Van Der Hoek granted Lightfoot a curative treatment conditional discharge with 12 months of probation. Lightfoot was fined $100 in victim surcharges.
Lightfoot committed the offence in New Minas on Nov. 25, 2017. The legal blood alcohol limit is 80 mg of alcohol in 100 ml of blood. Lightfoot gave breathalyser readings of 180 and 170.
Breathalyser offence
John David Sogorka, 28, of Gaspereau, has been fined for operating a motor vehicle while his blood alcohol level exceeded the legal limit.
Sogorka was not present in provincial court on Oct. 4 but his defence lawyer, Philip Star, entered a guilty plea to the charge on Sogorka’s behalf. Judge Ronda Van Der Hoek fined Sogorka a total of $1,560 and imposed a one-year driving prohibition against him.
Sogorka committed the offence in Wolfville on Feb. 16. The legal blood alcohol limit is 80 mg of alcohol in 100 ml of blood. Sogorka gave breathalyser readings of 110 and 100.
Breathalyser offence
Judy Ida Cromwell, 60, of Halifax, has been fined for operating a motor vehicle while her blood alcohol level exceeded the legal limit.
Cromwell was not present in provincial court on Oct. 4 but her defence lawyer, Philip Star, entered a guilty plea to the charge on Cromwell’s behalf. Judge Alan Tufts fined Cromwell a total of $1,495 and imposed a one-year driving prohibition against her.
Cromwell committed the offence in Wolfville on July 29. The legal blood alcohol limit is 80 mg of alcohol in 100 ml of blood. Cromwell gave breathalyser readings of 130 and 120.
Suspended sentence
Brandon Matthew Crewe, 36, of Canning, has been handed a suspended sentence with probation for committing mischief by willfully damaging a door to a value not exceeding $5,000; possessing a weapon for a purpose dangerous to the public peace and failing to comply with his undertaking.
Crewe changed his pleas to guilty to the charges on Dec. 21, 2017. The matters were adjourned to allow time for a pre-sentence report to be prepared and for sentencing. On Oct. 3, Judge Ronda Van Der Hoek handed Crewe a suspended sentence with 12 months of probation on the three charges.
Crewe committed the offences in Canning on July 11 and 12, 2017. Charges of carrying a weapon in committing an assault; two counts of uttering a death threat and a charge of engaging in conduct intended to provoke a state of fear in a justice system participant in order to impede the participant in the performance of his duties were dismissed on Oct. 3.
Assault, undertaking offence
David George Draginda, 36, of West Glenmont, has been handed a conditional sentence for committing an assault and failing to comply with his undertaking.
Draginda pleaded guilty to the charges on Sept. 11 and the matters were adjourned to Oct. 3 for sentencing.
Judge Ronda Van Der Hoek handed Draginda a three-month conditional sentence on each of the charges, to be served concurrently. This three-month conditional sentence will be served consecutively to one from New Brunswick that he is currently serving.
Draginda committed the offences in West Glenmont on April 16.
