House arrest for impaired driving, breach

The court has imposed a conditional sentence order (CSO), including a term of house arrest, on a Scotch Village man for impaired driving and a probation breach.

In Windsor provincial court Tuesday, June 3, judge Claudine MacDonald imposed a three-month CSO on William James Patterson, 37, for driving while impaired by drugs or alcohol and for failing to comply with a probation order. The CSO is to be followed by a term of one-year probation.

The first two months of the CSO are to be served under house arrest, with the usual exceptions for employment, education, appointments or emergencies. The remainder of the CSO will be under a curfew.

Probationary conditions include Patterson taking any recommended assessment, counselling or treatment, and refraining from possessing or consuming alcoholic beverages or non-medically prescribed drugs.

Patterson committed the offences in Scotch Village Dec. 15 and pleaded guilty to the charges Feb. 12. Police found he had failed to comply with a probation condition that he refrain from consuming alcohol.

On his plea date, the court imposed a two-year, Canada-wide driving prohibition on him.

The Nova Scotia Registry of Motor Vehicles will at least match that ban.

Probation for assault

Judge MacDonald suspended sentencing on Hantsport resident Cory Gardell Croft, 30, June 3 for assault and imposed a term of 18 months’ reporting probation on him.

Probationary conditions include Croft taking any recommended assessment, counselling or treatment; refraining from possessing or consuming alcoholic beverages or non-medically prescribed drugs; have no contact with the victim; and have no contact with anyone with a criminal, youth or drug-related record.

Croft committed the assault in Hantsport Dec. 25 and pleaded guilty to the charge April 15.

High-priced cigarettes

Windsor resident Lloyd Carmen Marr, 52, pleaded guilty June 3 to unlawful possession of unstamped cigarettes, contrary to the Excise Act.

Judge MacDonald fined Marr $1,887.34, plus $8,002.15 in unpaid taxes, for a total of $9,889.49, or 180 days in custody on willful default.

Marr committed the offense in Windsor March 17.

License privileged revoked

Mt. Uniacke resident Robin Dennis MacKenzie, 42, pleaded guilty June 3 to driving while his privilege of obtaining a license was revoked, contrary to the Nova Scotia Motor Vehicles Act (MVA).

Judge MacDonald fined Mackenzie $700 plus a $105 victim surcharge, or 30 days in custody on willful default.

Mackenzie committed the offense in Mt. Uniacke April 10.

Drove while license suspended

Three Mile Plains resident Douglas Ross Mosher, 51, pleaded guilty June 3 to driving while his license was suspended, contrary to the MVA. Judge MacDonald fined Mosher $500 plus a $75 victim surcharge.

Mosher committed the offense in Windsor May 27, 2007.

Convicted automatically

Judge MacDonald convicted automatically Three Mile Plains resident Keith William Gurscnich, 38, June 3 of following too closely, contrary to the MVA, and fined him $100 plus a $15 victim surcharge and $107 in costs. Police laid the charge in Garland’s Crossing Oct. 27, 2007.

Gurscnich pleaded not guilty to the charge Dec. 18, but failed to appear for his June 3 trial.

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Judge MacDonald convicted automatically Middle Sackville resident Ronald Paul Samson, 51, June 3 of discharging a firearm with rifle ammunition within 402 metres of a dwelling, contrary to the Nova Scotia Firearm and Bow Regulations, and fined him $200 plus a $30 victim surcharge and $107 in costs.

Police laid the charge in Greenfield Nov. 30. Samson pleaded not guilty Jan. 8, but failed to attend his June 3 trial.

In other court matters

Halifax resident Lucian Jurka, 29, pleaded guilty June 3 to driving to the left of a solid line, contrary to the MVA.

Judge MacDonald fined Jurka $143.91 plus a $21.59 victim surcharge and $107 in costs.

Jurka committed the offense in Windsor Oct. 7.