Hants County court report

House arrest for curling club blaze

The court has placed a Garland’s Crossing teen under house arrest for his part in the blazes that destroyed the Windsor Curling Club and a nearby shed last September.

In Windsor provincial court Monday, Feb. 4, Judge Alan Tufts imposed a 15-month conditional sentence order (CSO), followed by probation, on Daniel Richard James Corbin, 18, for committing mischief by willfully damaging the Windsor Curling Club by fire, and intentionally or recklessly causing damage by fire to a shed.

The CSO includes nine months’ house arrest, with the usual exceptions for work, education, emergencies and appointments. It also includes Corbin doing 50 hours of community service.

The 21-month probation includes a further 100 hours of community service as well as conditions that he avoid contact with specific persons and take any recommended assessment, counselling or treatment.

Corbin must also provide a DNA sample for Corrections records.

Corbin committed the offenses Sept. 25 and pleaded guilty to the charges Dec. 11.

Another Hants County man received a federal sentence for his part in the blazes.

A teenage girl has been going through the Youth Justice system in connection with the incidents.

New Year’s incident ends in jail

An Avondale man is off to jail for three weapons offenses he committed last New Year’s Eve.

Judge Alan Tufts sentenced Mitchell Paul Baxter, 27, in Windsor provincial court Tuesday, Feb. 5 to 10 months and two weeks in custody, followed by two years of probation, for two counts of possessing a 0.303 rifle for a purpose dangerous to the public peace and for committing indictable mischief by discharging the weapon.

The judge also imposed a 10-year, 10-month and two-week firearms ban on Baxter.

Baxter committed one possession in Ellershouse and a possession and mischief in St. Croix Dec. 31. He pleaded guilty to the charges Jan. 8.

Baxter had been in remand by consent from Jan. 1. The court withdrew a number of related charges.

Probationary conditions include Baxter being prohibited from possessing or consuming alcoholic beverages or non-medically prescribed drugs; having no contact with specific individuals; and staying away from the residences of certain individuals.

Young person gets probation

A 17-year-old Fredericton, New Brunswick, girl pleaded guilty Feb. 5 to possessing property valued at more than $5,000 and known to have been obtained unlawfully, and to failing to comply with a probation order.

Judge Tufts imposed a term of eight months of reporting probation on the young person, who can’t be named under the Youth Justice Act.

Probationary conditions include the girl take any recommended assessment, counselling or treatment, and she refrain from having any contact with other suspects in the incident.

The accused committed the offense in Windsor Jan. 5 when a group of New Brunswick young people arrived in town and ended up facing a number of charges.

Fine for bogus pogey report

Windsor resident Robin Trowsdale, 28, pleaded guilty Feb. 4 to filing a false EI claim saying that he had not worked or had no earnings, contrary to the EI Act.

Judge Tufts fined Trowsdale $1,800, or 29 days in custody on willful default.

Trowsdale committed the offense in Windsor between March 28 and July 23, 2005.

The court withdrew a number of related charges.

In other court matters

Judge Tufts found Brooklyn resident Robert Ian Philips, 26, guilty Feb. 4 of driving between 16 and 30 kilometres per hour over the posted speed limit, contrary to the Nova Scotia Motor Vehicles Act (MVA).

Judge Tufts fined Philips $150 plus a $15.50 victim surcharge and $107 in costs. He also suspended his driver’s license between April 26 and May 3.

Philips committed the offense on Wentworth Road Nov. 28.