Court Report

Granted curative discharge

Judge Alan Tufts granted a curative discharge to New Minas resident Beverly Ronald Guptill, 55, for a charge of having care and control of a motor vehicle while his blood/alcohol readings exceeded the legal limit.

The discharge is pending two years of taking any recommended assessment, counselling or treatment, and refraining from possessing or consuming any alcoholic beverages or non-medically prescribed drugs.

The judge also prohibited Guptill from driving in Canada for three years, a ban the Registry of Motor Vehicles will at least match.

Guptill committed the offense in New Minas Sept. 29, 2007 when police found he had a blood/alcohol reading of 228 mg. He pleaded guilty to the charge May 14.

Theft, property interference, breach

The court imposed a term on a man with no fixed address for attempted theft, property interference and failing to comply with a recognizance order.

John Patrick Jordan, 36, pleaded guilty to the charges in Kentville provincial court Oct. 1.

Judge Claudine MacDonald suspended sentencing on Jordan for the convictions and imposed a term of one-year reporting probation on him.

Probation conditions include Jordan taking and recommended assessment, counselling or treatment; refraining from possessing or consuming alcoholic beverages; and refraining from attending the property in question.

Jordan committed the offenses at a Kentville thrift shop Sept. 30.

Probation for theft, breach

A north Kentville man received a probationary term for theft and a recognizance breach.

Judge MacDonald suspended sentencing Sept. 30 on Kelsey Corey Clarke, 26, on theft and failing to comply with a recognizance order, and imposed a term of 18 months’ reporting probation and ordered him to perform 50 hours of community service.

Clarke committed the theft and breach in New Minas May 10. He pleaded guilty to the charges Aug. 7.

Fine, probation for damage

Aylesford-area resident Jeffery Lee Hiscoe, 25, pleaded guilty Sept. 30 to causing damage costing less than $5,000 to property.

Judge MacDonald fined Hiscoe $200 plus a $30 victim surcharge, or three days in custody, and ordered him to pay $158 in restitution.

She also imposed a term of two weeks’ probation on Hiscoe. He committed the offense in Kingston Aug. 6.

Granted conditional discharge

Judge MacDonald granted a conditional discharge Sept. 30 to New Minas resident Megan Samson, 22, on charges of attempted fraud by unlawfully obtaining credit, impersonating another in order to obtain property, and theft or property.

The discharge is pending nine months’ reporting probation, conditions of which include Samson taking any recommended assessment, counselling or treatment and paying $1,000 in restitution.

The charges resulted from incidents in Kentville Nov. 14, 2007.

Automatic convictions

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.