Court Report

Cocaine possession nets house arrest

A Welton’s Corner man has received a conditional sentence involving house arrest for possession of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking.

In Kentville provincial court Wednesday, May 7, Judge Claudine MacDonald imposed a two-years less a day conditional sentence order (CSO) on John Leroy Jones, 38, for possession of cocaine, a Schedule I drug under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, for the purpose of trafficking.

The sentence is entirely in the form of house arrest, with the usual exceptions for employment, appointments and emergencies.

As well, Judge MacDonald imposed a 12-year firearms prohibition on Jones and ordered him to provide a DNA sample to be kept on file.

Jones committed the offense at Welton’s Corner Feb. 22 and pleaded guilty to the charge April 1.

Breaches result in CSO

In court Thursday, April 24, Judge MacDonald imposed a six-month conditional sentence order and 30 hours of community service work on Kentville resident Carson Lee Bezanson, 23, for three counts of failing to comply with probation orders and for failing to comply with an undertaking.

The CSO is in the form of a curfew and has conditions such as Bezanson having no contact with those with criminal, youth or drug convictions, and no contact with a specific individual.

Bezanson committed the first probation breach in north Kentville Feb. 16, 2008, the second one March 13, and the third and undertaking breach in Kentville March 21.

Fine, prohibition

Kingsport resident James Leonard Lyon, 58, pleaded guilty May 5 to having care and control of a vehicle while his blood-alcohol level exceeded the legal limit.

Judge Alan Tufts fined Lyon $950 plus a $142.50 victim surcharge, or 16 days in custody on willful default.

The judge also prohibited Lyon from driving in Canada for two years. The Nova Scotia Registry of Motor Vehicles will ban Lyon from driving in the province for at least two years.

Lyon committed the offense in New Minas March 30 when police found he had blood-alcohol readings of 200 and 180 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood.

The legal limit is 80 mg/100 ml.

The Criminal Code of Canada gives the court the option of heavier penalties in those breathalyzer cases in which readings exceed 160 mg/100 ml.

More than twice the limit

Canning resident Wayne Lovett Jordan, 67, pleaded guilty May 5 to driving while his blood-alcohol level exceeded the 80 mg/100 ml limit.

Judge Tufts fined Jordan $850 or 13 days in custody on willful default, and prohibited him from driving in Canada for a year, a term the Registry of Motor Vehicles will at least match.

Jordan committed the offense in Canning Nov. 22, 2007 when police found he had blood-alcohol readings of 180 and 180 mg/100 ml.

Probation for assault

Judge Tufts suspended sentencing May 6 on Aylesford resident Dewayne Anthony Kennedy, 32, for an assault conviction and imposed a term of 12 months’ reporting probation on him.

Probationary conditions include that Kennedy take any recommended assessment, counselling or treatment and that he refrain from possessing or consuming alcoholic beverages or non-medically prescribed drugs.

Kennedy committed the assault in Aylesford Feb. 8 and pleaded guilty to the charge March 25.

Attempted theft

Wilmot resident John Lorne Alexander Baker, 39, pleaded guilty May 6 to attempted theft.

Judge Tufts fined Baker $350 plus a $52.50 victim surcharge, or six days in custody on willful default.

Baker committed the attempted theft in Berwick Aug. 18, 2007.

Fined for breach

Sunken Lake resident Douglas Robie Messom, 38, pleaded guilty May 5 to failing to comply with a court undertaking.

Judge Tufts fined Messom $200 plus a $30 victim surcharge, or three days in custody on willful default. Messom committed the breach in Wolfville April 19-20.

Company failed to notify

Larsen Packers Limited, Berwick, counsel Bob Grant pleaded guilty on the company’s behalf May 5 to failing to notify government authorities that drinking water had not met microbiological criteria set by the Canadian Drinking Water order, contrary to the Water and Wastewater Facilities and Public Drinking Water Supplies Management.

Judge Tufts fined Larsen Packers $500 plus a $75 victim surcharge and $107 in costs.

The company committed the offense in Berwick between Jan. 28 and Nov. 21, 2007.

License privilege revoked

New Minas resident Richard Leroy Wolfe, 20, pleaded guilty April 24 to driving while his privilege of obtaining a driver’s license was revoked, contrary to the Nova Scotia Motor Vehicle Act (MVA).

Judge MacDonald fined Wolfe $500 plus a $75 victim surcharge. Wolfe committed the offense in Kentville March 22, 2007.

Granted conditional discharge

Judge MacDonald granted a conditional discharge May 6 to Canard resident Nicholas James Ross, 21, on a charge of mischief.

The discharge is pending six months’ probation and payment of $94.77 in restitution.

The charge resulted from an incident in Kingston May 5, 2005.

In other court matters

Counsel for Kentville resident Jeffery Gillis Kennedy, 27, pleaded guilty on his behalf May 5 to driving 31 kilometres per hour or more in excess of the posted speed limit, contrary to the MVA.

Judge Tufts fined Kennedy $250 plus a $37.50 victim surcharge and $107 in costs and suspended his license from May 12-19.

Kennedy committed the offense on Highway 101 near Avonport Oct. 6, 2007.

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Judge MacDonald found Berwick resident Robert E. Best, 48, guilty May 5 of operating an off-highway vehicle without a permit, contrary to the Off-Highway Vehicle Act.

The judge fined Best $130 plus a $19.57 victim surcharge and $107 in costs.

Best committed the offense in Berwick Jan. 5.

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Judge MacDonald denied a remission of penalty request and fined Centreville resident George E. Wilbur, 18, $50 plus a $7.50 victim surcharge and $107 in costs for not using an available seatbelt, contrary to the MVA.

Wilbur committed the offense in Port Williams Feb. 20 and pleaded guilty to the charge April 21, when he requested the remission.

Convicted automatically

Judge Tufts convicted automatically Wolfville resident Ann Marie Kean, 46, May 5 on a charge of failing to stop at a stop sign, contrary to the MVA.

The judge fined Kean $50 plus a $7.50 victim surcharge and $107 in costs.

Police laid the charge in Wolfville March 13.