Court Report

Jailed for series of offenses

The court has jailed a young Canning man for a series of offenses he committed between October and January.

Robert Jason Strong, 19, pleaded guilty in Kentville provincial court Tuesday, Feb. 26 to committing mischief by causing damage to property and to failing to comply with an undertaking.

Strong had pleaded guilty Feb. 11 to possession of a prohibited weapon and accessible information for it; careless storage of a firearm; causing a public disturbance by fighting and shouting; possession of a weapon for a purpose dangerous to the public peace; failing to comply with an undertaking; and possession of cannabis marijuana, a Schedule II drug under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (CDSA).

Judge Claudine MacDonald sentenced Strong to two months in custody for each of the convictions, to be served concurrently, followed by one-year reporting probation.

Probationary conditions include Strong taking any recommended assessment, counseling or treatment; refraining from possession or consuming alcoholic beverages or non-medically prescribed drugs; and having no contact with persons with criminal, youth or drug records.

The accused committed the prohibited weapon possession and careless storage offenses in Canning Oct. 31 and the disturbance, weapon possession for a dangerous purpose, the CDSA possession and the liquor possession in Kentville Dec. 8. He committed the first undertaking breach in Canning Dec. 29 and the second one and the mischief in Canning Jan. 25. Strong had been remanded since Jan. 29

Strong also pleaded guilty Feb. 26 to illegal possession of liquor, contrary to the Nova Scotia Liquor Control Act. Judge MacDonald fined him $50.

He committed the offense in Kentville Dec. 8.

Fined for breathalyzer readings

Colpitts Settlement, New Brunswick resident Matthew John Steen, 21, pleaded guilty Monday, Feb. 25 to having care and control of a motor vehicle while his blood-alcohol level exceeded the legal limit.

Judge Alan Tufts fined Steen $800 plus a $120 victim surcharge, or 15 days in custody on willful default.

He also prohibited Steen from driving in Canada for one year. The Nova Scotia Registry of Motor Vehicles will ban Steen from driving in the province for at least that long.

Steen committed the offense in New Minas Oct. 31 when police found he had blood-alcohol readings of 150 and 140 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood. The legal limit is 80 mg/100 ml.

May get Interlock device

Defense counsel Chris Manning pleaded guilty on behalf of New Minas resident Stephen Mark Hennessey, 37, Feb. 25 to driving while his blood-alcohol level exceeded the 80 mg/100 ml limit.

Judge Alan Tufts fined Hennessey $700 plus a $105 victim surcharge, or 13 days in custody on willful default.

The judge also prohibited Hennessey from driving in Canada for a year, a period the Registry of Motor Vehicles will at least match, but provided for him to apply to have an Interlock breathalyzer device installed in his vehicle after six months.

Hennessey committed the offense in Kentville Nov. 18 when police found he had blood-alcohol readings of 130 and 140 mg/100 ml.

Probation, day for disturbance, breaches

Kentville resident George Kelly Meister, 46, pleaded guilty Feb. 25 to causing a disturbance in a public place, two counts of failing to comply with probation orders and failing to comply with a court undertaking.

Judge Tufts sentenced Meister to one day in custody, deemed served by his court appearance, for the offenses, and 12 months’ non-reporting probation.

Meister committed the first probation breach in Kentville Jan. 15 and the disturbance and other breaches Jan. 16.

Fine, probation for thefts

Bedford resident James Edwin Dempsey, 45, pleaded guilty Feb. 25 to theft of property valued at less than $5,000 from two Halifax-area businesses.

Judge Tufts fined Dempsey $200 plus a $30 victim surcharge, or three days in custody on willful default, for the first theft, and $250 plus a $37.50 victim surcharge, or four days in custody, for the second.

The judge also imposed a term of 12 months’ probation for both thefts. A probationary condition is that Dempsey not enter two particular Metro stores.

Dempsey committed the thefts Oct. 6.

Probation for theft

Greenwood resident Barbara Joan Morrison, 20, pleaded guilty Feb. 25 to theft from a Greenwood shop.

Judge Tufts suspended sentencing on Morrison for the conviction and imposed a term of one-year reporting probation on her.

A probationary condition is she take any recommended assessment, counseling or treatment.

Morrison committed the theft Jan. 13.

Breached peace bond

New Minas resident Philip Percy Foster, 51, pleaded guilty Feb. 25 to failing to comply with a peace bond.

Judge Tufts suspended sentencing on Foster for the conviction and imposed a term of nine months’ reporting probation on him.

Probationary conditions include Foster taking any recommended assessment, counselling or treatment, and not having contact with a specific person or that person’s family.

Foster committed the breach in New Minas between Dec. 3 and 17, 2007.

Drove while disqualified

Greenwich resident Robert John Houghton, 22, pleaded guilty Feb. 25 to driving while disqualified, contrary to the Criminal Code.

Judge Tufts fined Houghton $800 plus a $120 victim surcharge, or 15 days in custody on willful default.

Houghton committed the offense in Wolfville March 25.



$2,000 drive

Wilmot, Annapolis County resident Robert Jody Bent, 32, pleaded guilty Feb. 25 to driving without the required liability insurance, driving while his privilege of obtaining a license was revoked, and driving an unregistered vehicle, all contrary to the Nova Scotia Motor Vehicles Act (MVA).

Judge Tufts fined Bent $1,200 plus a $180 victim surcharge for the insurance offense; $500 plus a $75 victim surcharge for the license infraction; and $50 plus a $7.50 victim surcharge for the lack of vehicle registration.

Bent committed the offenses in Kingston Jan. 19.

Wasn’t careful, prudent

Greenwood resident Randy James Mitchell, 26, pleaded guilty Feb. 25 to failing to drive in a careful and prudent manner, contrary to the MVA.

Judge Tufts fined Mitchell $250 plus a $37.50 victim surcharge and $107 in costs.

Mitchell committed the offense in Greenwood Sept. 21.