Court Report

CSO for thefts, break-in

A Coldbrook resident has received a conditional sentence order (CSO) for thefts and a break-in he committed in mid-2007.

Ryan Alexander Nickerson, 23, pleaded guilty in Kentville provincial court Sept. 17 to two counts of theft of property valued at less than $5,000 and to break and entry at a storage bin and committing indictable theft.

Judge Claudine MacDonald imposed a one-year conditional sentence order (CSO) on Nickerson for each of the offenses, to be served concurrently. Nickerson will serve the first six months of the CSOs in the form of house arrest, with the remainder under curfew. The house arrest has the usual exceptions for work, education, appointments and emergencies.

The judge also ordered the accused to pay $1,325 in restitution to one of the victims, a transport company.

Nickerson committed the first theft at a transport company in Kentville May 21, 2007, the second theft June 10 and the break-in and theft Aug. 26.

Damaged property

White Rock resident Norman Thomas Gary Hunt, 38, pleaded guilty Sept. 17 to two counts of causing damage costing less than $5,000 to property.

Judge MacDonald imposed a term of nine months’ reporting probation on Hunt for the convictions and ordered him to pay $450 in restitution.

Probation conditions include Hunt taking any recommended assessment, counselling or treatment; refraining from possession or consuming alcoholic beverages or non-medically prescribed drugs; and staying away from the victims’ property.

Hunt committed the damage in Kentville Jan. 21.

Probation for failure to attend, damage

Judge MacDonald suspended sentencing Sept. 17 on Greenwood resident Shane Alexander Dowling, 19, for convictions of failing to attend court and causing damage costing less than $5,000 to property, and imposed a term of six months’ reporting probation on him. Probation conditions include Dowling taking any recommended assessment, counselling or treatment.

Dowling committed the failure to attend in Kentville April 14 and the property damage in Greenwood May 3. He pleaded guilty to the charges Aug. 3.

Sped

Bridgetown, Annapolis County resident Barry Jack Fredericks, 41, pleaded guilty Sept. 17 to driving between 16 and 30 kilometres per hour in excess of the posted speed limit, contrary to the Nova Scotia Motor Vehicle Act (MVA).

Judge MacDonald fined Fredericks $150 plus a $22.50 victim surcharge and $107 in costs.

In other court matters

Judge MacDonald found Centerville resident Darrell J. Innis, 43, guilty Sept. 17 of following another vehicle too closely, contrary to the MVA, and fined him a total of $100, following a remission of penalty.

Innis committed the offense on Highway 101 Aug. 9, 2007. --

Judge MacDonald found Waterville resident Clyde Strowbridge, 49, guilty Sept. 17 of failing to wear an available seatbelt, contrary to the MVA, and fined him $50 plus a $7.50 victim surcharge and $107 in costs.

Strowbridge committed the offense in Cambridge Oct. 7, 2007.

Convicted automatically

Judge MacDonald convicted automatically Grand-Pre resident Laurie R. Porter, 41, of driving while not wearing an available seatbelt, contrary to the MVA, and fined him $50 plus a $7.50 victim surcharge and $107 in costs.

Porter had appeared previously in court on the matter and was scheduled to trial Sept. 17 when he failed to appear.

Police laid the charge in Greenwich Jan. 8. ---

Judge MacDonald convicted automatically Black Rock resident Harold William Pineo, 49, Sept. 17 of being drunk in a public place, contrary to the Nova Scotia Liquor Control Act (LCA).

The judge fined Pineo $3.91 plus a 59-cent victim surcharge and $107 in costs.

Pineo was in court March 3, when his trial was scheduled for Sept. 17, but he failed to attend. Police laid the charge in Kingston Jan. 18.