Court Report

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The court has given Michael Patrick Connors, 35, Garland, a suspended sentence with probation for having control of a vehicle that was involved in a collision with another vehicle and, with the intent of escaping civil or criminal liability, failing to stop his vehicle, give his name and address and offer assistance to an injured party. The court has fined Connors also for illegal possession of liquor.

Connors entered guilty pleas to the charges July 3, 2007. The matters were adjourned to Oct. 23, 2007 to allow time for a pre-sentence report to be prepared and for sentencing. Connors was handed a suspended sentence with one year of probation and an 18-month driving prohibition for failing to stop at the scene of the collision. He was fined a total of $445 for illegally possessing liquor and was given until March 31, 2008 to pay the fine with no default.

Connors committed the offences on Highway 360 in Somerset April 29, 2007.

Resisted, assaulted police officer

The court has sentenced Harold James Baker, 36, New Ross, to a period in custody for assaulting a member of the Kentville Police Service engaged in the execution of his duty and for willfully resisting a member of the Kentville Police Service engaged in the execution of his duty.

Baker entered not guilty pleas to the two charges Jan. 29, 2007, but was found guilty on both counts July 19, 2007 following a trial. The matters were adjourned to Oct. 22, 2007 to allow time for a pre-sentence report to be prepared and for sentencing.

Baker was sentenced Oct. 22 to 30 days in custody on each count, to be served concurrently, for a total of 30 days in custody.

Baker committed the offences in Kentville Oct. 1, 2006.

Custody for various offences

The court has sentenced Christopher Samuel Hodges, 24, Berwick, to a total of nine months in custody on seven charges, including three counts of failing to comply with a probation order by which he was bound, three charges under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (CDSA) and one count of stealing the property of Wal-Mart of a value not exceeding $5,000.

Hodges entered not guilty pleas to the three counts of failing to comply with a probation order, the charge of stealing the property of Wal-Mart and to the included offence of possession by indictment of cannabis marijuana June 25, 2007. The matters were adjourned to Oct. 24, 2007 for trial.

However, Hodges changed his pleas to guilty on these five charges prior to the scheduled trial Oct. 24 and entered guilty pleas to a charge of unlawfully having in his possession not in excess of 30 grams of cannabis marijuana, a drug listed in Schedule II of the CDSA, and to a charge of possession by indictment of in excess of 30 grams of cannabis marijuana and unlawful possession of hydromorphone, a substance listed in Schedule I of the CDSA.

Hodges was sentenced Oct. 24, 2007 to a total of nine months’ provincial custody on the seven charges.

The incidents occurred between March 9, 2007 and Oct. 14, 2007 in New Minas and Kentville.

Income tax offences

The court has fined Ells Trucking Company, North Bishop Road, Cambridge, for four counts of unlawfully failing to provide the office of the Canada Revenue Agency in Halifax a return of income on Form T2, including a balance sheet and income statement, following notice therefore being made upon the company, contrary to the Income Tax Act.

The company entered not guilty pleas to the charges April 23, 2007 and the matters were adjourned to Oct. 23, 2007 for trial. However, the company changed its pleas to guilty on all four charges Oct. 23 and was fined $1,000 per charge for a total of $4,000. They have been given until April 28, 2008 to pay with no default.

The offences were committed in Cambridge between May 8, 2006 and Feb. 8, 2007 and relate to the fiscal periods ending Dec. 31, 2001; Dec. 31, 2002; Dec. 31, 2003; and Dec. 31, 2004.

Assault causing bodily harm

The court has handed Harold Robert Blanchard a suspended sentence with a period of probation for committing an assault causing bodily harm, the included offence of assault and for storing a firearm in a manner contrary to the Criminal Code.

Blanchard entered not guilty pleas to the charges Jan. 2, 2007. The matters were adjourned to July 4, 2007 for trial. Blanchard changed his plea to guilty July 4 on the charge of storing a firearm in a manner contrary to the Criminal Code.

He was found guilty of assault causing bodily harm and to the included offence of assault following the trial July 4. The matters were adjourned to Oct. 23, 2007 to allow time for a pre-sentence report to be prepared and for sentencing.

Blanchard was given a suspended sentence with 15 months of probation Oct. 23. The court granted a DNA order in relation to the charge of assault causing bodily harm and a two-year firearm prohibition order in relation to the charge of storing a firearm in a manner contrary to the Criminal Code. Blanchard will be permitted to transfer any weapons.

Blanchard committed the offences in north Kentville Dec. 3, 2006.

Conditional discharge for assaults

The court has handed Ron Michael Folberg, 64, Kentville, a conditional discharge with a period of probation for committing an assault on an individual and for committing an assault on an individual causing bodily harm.

Folberg entered guilty pleas to the two charges July 16, 2007. The matters were adjourned to Oct. 23, 2007 to allow time for a pre-sentence report to be prepared and for sentencing. Folberg was given a conditional discharge with 18 months of probation Oct. 23. The court granted a DNA order in relation to the charge of assault causing bodily harm and imposed a three-year firearm prohibition order against Folberg.

Folberg committed the offences in Kentville July 3, 2007.

Suspended sentence for assault

Ross Sandy Forrest, 34, New Minas, received a suspended sentence with probation for committing an assault on an individual.

Forrest entered a guilty plea to the charge July 3, 2007. The matter was adjourned to Oct. 24, 2007 to allow time for a pre-sentence report to be prepared and for sentencing. The court handed Forrest a suspended sentence Oct. 24 with one-year of probation and a five-year firearm prohibition order.

Forrest committed the offence in New Minas June 19, 2007.

One day deemed served

The court has sentenced Arun Ramesh Johnson, 27, Kentville, to one day in custody deemed served on each count for committing an assault on an individual; by word of mouth knowingly uttering a threat to cause bodily harm or death to an individual; failing without reasonable excuse to comply with a probation order by which he was bound; and for, being at large on a recognizance, failing without lawful excuse to comply with a condition of the recognizance.

Johnson entered not guilty pleas to the charges of assault, uttering a threat and failing to comply with the probation order May 7, 2007. The matters were adjourned to Oct. 25, 2007 for trial.

However, Johnson changed his pleas to guilty Oct. 25 and entered a guilty plea to the charge of failing to comply with a condition of a recognizance. He was sentenced to one day deemed served on each count, concurrently.

Johnson committed the offences of assault, uttering a threat and failing to comply with a probation order in Kentville Jan. 29, 2007. He committed the offence of failing to comply with a condition of the recognizance in Kentville Aug. 25, 2007.

Exceeded legal limit

The court has fined Darrel Blake Clem, 44, Aylesford, for having care or control of a motor vehicle having consumed alcohol in such a quantity that the concentration thereof in his blood exceeded the legal limit.

Clem entered a guilty plea to the charge Oct. 22, 2007. He was fined a total of $1,035 and has been given until Feb. 28, 2008 to pay or spend 17 days in custody on willful default. The court has imposed a one-year, Canada-wide driving prohibition against Clem.

Clem committed the offence in Berwick Sept. 8, 2007 when he was found to have care or control of a motor vehicle having consumed alcohol in such a quantity that the concentration in his blood exceeded 80 mg of alcohol in 100 ml of blood, the legal limit. Clem gave breathalyzer readings of 180 and 180.

Breathalyzer offence

The court has fined Vincent Roy Smith, 44, Centreville, for having care or control of a motor vehicle having consumed alcohol in such a quantity that the concentration thereof in his blood exceeded the legal limit.

Smith entered a guilty plea to the charge Oct. 22, 2007. He was fined a total of $920 and has been given until Jan. 28, 2008 to pay or spend 15 days in custody on willful default. The court has imposed a one-year, Canada-wide driving prohibition against him.

Smith committed the offence in Greenwood Aug. 7, 2007 when he was found to have care or control of a motor vehicle having consumed alcohol in such a quantity that the concentration in his blood exceeded 80 mg of alcohol in 100 ml of blood, the legal limit. Smith gave breathalyzer readings of 150 and 160.

Motor vehicle offences

The court has fined Brian Markey, 48, Melvern Square, Annapolis County, for four motor vehicle offences, including operating a motor vehicle without a valid driver’s license; operating a motor vehicle required to be registered under the Motor Vehicle Act when there was not a valid liability policy in force in relation to either the driver or the vehicle; operating an unregistered vehicle; and operating a motor vehicle on a highway without a valid inspection sticker.

Markey entered guilty pleas to all four charges Oct. 22, 2007. With remissions applied, he was fined a total of $500. He has been given until Nov. 24, 2008 to pay with no default.

Markey committed the offences in Kingston Aug. 10, 2007.

In other court matters

The court has fined Maynard Harris Atwell, 56, Coldbrook, for operating a motor vehicle on a highway while disqualified from doing so by reason of the revocation of his privilege of obtaining a driver’s license.

Atwell entered a guilty plea to the charge Oct. 22, 2007. He was fined a total of $400 and has been given until Aug. 25, 2008 to pay with no default.

Atwell committed the offence in Coldbrook Aug. 1, 2007.

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The court has fined Dolan Blane Banks, 25, Black Rock, for driving a motor vehicle on a highway while his driver’s license or privilege of obtaining a driver’s license was revoked.

Banks entered a guilty plea to the charge Oct. 22, 2007. He was fined a total of $682 and has been given until Jan. 28, 2008 to pay with no default.

Banks committed the offence on Highway 221 Sept. 7, 2007.

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The court has fined Reginald Frederick Dalton, 62, Greenfield Road, for failing to produce a valid inspection certificate for his vehicle at the request of a peace officer.

Dalton entered a guilty plea to the charge Oct. 25, 2007. He was fined a total of $25 and has been given until Nov. 26, 2007 to pay with no default.

Dalton committed the offence on Main Street, Berwick Aug. 29, 2007.