Jailed for assault, threat, breaches

The court has jailed a Kentville man for offenses pertaining mostly to an incident in that town last April.

In Kentville provincial court Wednesday, June 11, Judge Claudine MacDonald sentenced Arun Ramesh Johnson, 27, to four months in custody each for assaulting a police officer in the execution of duties, threatening death or bodily harm to a police officer in execution of duties, four counts of failing to comply with undertaking conditions, and failing to comply with a probation order. The sentences are to be served concurrently with each other.

Johnson committed the first undertaking breach in Windsor Jan. 19 when he failed to refrain from possessing or consuming alcoholic beverages. He committed the second undertaking breach in Kentville March 28.

The Kentville incident in which Johnson committed the assault, threat, and probation and undertaking breaches took place April 21.

Johnson pleaded guilty to the charges April 21 and had been in remand since.

High readings bring fine

Wolfville resident Joseph Victor Hagen, 49, pleaded guilty Monday, June 9 to driving while his blood-alcohol readings exceeded the legal limit – in fact, by well over two-fold.

Judge Alan Tufts fined Hagen $1,000 plus a $150 victim surcharge, or 17 days in custody on willful default.

He also prohibited Hagen from driving in Canada for 15 months, and after the first three months an ignition interlocking device could be fitted to the accused’s vehicle.

The Nova Scotia Registry of Motor Vehicles will ban Hagen from driving in the province for at least 15 months.

Hagen committed the offense in Kentville April 14 when police found he had blood-alcohol readings of 250 and 230 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood. The legal limit in 80 mg/100 ml.

The Criminal Code allows for heavier penalties for those breathalyzer convictions involving readings in excess of 160 mg/100 ml.

Fined for breathalyzer

Aylesford resident Travis Darrell Seyforth, 20, pleaded guilty Thursday, June 5 to driving while his blood-alcohol readings exceeded the 80-mg/100 ml limit.

Judge Tufts fined Seyforth $850 plus a $127.50 victim surcharge, or 15 days in custody on willful default, and prohibited him from driving in Canada for a year.

The Registry of Motor Vehicles will ban Seyforth from driving in the province for at least a year.

Judge Tufts allowed provisions to provide for Seyforth’s vehicle to be fitted with an ignition interlocking device after the first three months of the prohibition.

Seyforth committed the offense in Greenwood March 9 when police found he had readings of 170 and 160 mg/100 ml.

Breached probation

Lakeville resident Michael Patrick Mosher, 18, pleaded guilty June 11 to failing to comply with a probation order.

Judge MacDonald fined Mosher $150 plus a $22.50 victim surcharge, or two days in custody on willful default.

Mosher committed the breach in Kentville earlier June 11.

Stole from store

North Kentville resident Anita Margaret Blanchard, 55, pleaded guilty June 9 to theft of property valued at less than $5,000 from a Kentville business.

Judge MacDonald fined Blanchard $50 plus a $7.50 victim surcharge. Blanchard committed the theft in Kentville May 8.

Possessed marijuana

Pereau resident Anthony William Pineo, 46, pleaded guilty June 9 to possession of less than 30 grams of cannabis marijuana, a Schedule II drug under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (CDSA).

Judge MacDonald fined Pineo $200 plus a $30 victim surcharge, or three days in custody on willful default. Pineo committed the possession in New Minas April 18.

Drove without insurance

Judge MacDonald found Dempsey’s Corner resident John Leroy Jones, 38, guilty June 11 of driving without the required liability insurance, contrary to the Nova Scotia Motor Vehicles Act (MVA).

The judge fined Jones $1,000 plus a $150 victim surcharge and $107 in costs. Jones committed the offense in Dempsey’s Corner Oct. 4, 2007.

Convicted automatically

Judge MacDonald convicted automatically Cullen Joseph McDonald, 28, June 9 of driving while his privilege of obtaining a license was revoked, and driving a vehicle that didn’t have a valid inspection sticker, both contrary to the Nova Scotia Motor Vehicles Act.

Judge MacDonald fined McDonald $500 plus a $75 victim surcharge plus $100 in costs for the license-related offense, and $50 plus a $7.50 victim surcharge and $107 in costs for the inspection matter. Police laid the charges on Highway 101 near Hantsport April 19.

McDonald had been in court the day of the automatic convictions, but was not present when the cases came up for hearing.

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Judge Tufts convicted automatically Berwick resident Andrew Stephen Balsor, 21, June 11 of driving without the required liability insurance, and of not wearing an available seatbelt, both contrary to the MVA.

The judge fined Balsor $1,000 plus a $150 victim surcharge and $107 in costs for the insurance conviction and $50 plus a $7.50 victim surcharge and $107 in costs for the seabelt offense. Police laid the charges in Aylesford Sept. 27, 2007.

Balsor had pleaded not guilty to the charges Dec. 3, but failed to show up for his June 11 trial on the matters.