This is the latest court report for Kings and West Hants counties.
Committed mischief, stole property
Paul Frances Stevens, 46, of Pugwash, has been fined for committing mischief by willfully damaging an individual’s property to a value not exceeding $5,000 and for stealing property valued at less than $5,000.
Stevens changed his pleas to guilty on April 20. Judge Alan Tufts fined Stevens $260 on each count, for a total of $520 in fines.
Stevens committed the offences in Windsor between Sept. 15, 2016, and Jan. 7, 2017. Charges of assault and using or threatening to use a weapon in committing an assault were withdrawn on April 20 and a charge of willfully attempting to obstruct, pervert or defeat the course of justice in a judicial proceeding was dismissed on April 20 with the Crown offering no evidence.
Committed fraud, failed to attend court
Wayne Robert Kelly, 24, of Kingston, has been handed a conditional discharge with probation for defrauding the Greenwood Scotiabank of a sum of money not exceeding $5,000 and for failing to attend court in accordance with a Promise to Appear in which he had been named.
Kelly pleaded guilty to the fraud charge in February and the matter was adjourned to April 16 to allow time for a pre-sentence report to be prepared and for sentencing. Kelly was not present in court on April 16. A request from his solicitor to withdraw was granted and the court issued a warrant for Kelly’s arrest.
Kelly was present in Kentville provincial court in custody on April 23. Judge Claudine MacDonald handed Kelly a conditional discharge with one year of probation on the two charges. Kelly was ordered to pay $1,000 in restitution through the court to the Greenwood Scotiabank and was ordered to complete 25 hours of community service work in relation to the fraud charge. Kelly was fined $100 in victim surcharges on each count, for a total of $200 in fines.
Kelly committed the offences in Greenwood on Aug. 18, 2016, and in Kentville on April 16, 2018.
Suspended sentence for assault
James Douglas Bonia, 57, of Kentville, has been handed a suspended sentence with probation for committing an assault.
Bonia pleaded guilty to the charge on April 24. Judge Claudine MacDonald handed Bonia a suspended sentence with one year of reporting probation and fined him $100 in victim surcharges.
Bonia committed the offence in Kentville on March 21. A charge of stealing property of a value not exceeding $5,000 was withdrawn on April 24.
Suspended sentence for assault
Jarrett James Gouchie, 36, of Wilmot, has been handed a suspended sentence with probation for committing an assault.
Gouchie changed his plea to guilty on April 25. Judge Claudine MacDonald handed Gouchie a suspended sentence with six months of probation and fined him $100 in victim surcharges.
Gouchie committed the offence in Kingston on June 25, 2017.
Conditional discharge for assault
Brenda Jean Ross (a.k.a. States) has been handed a conditional discharge with probation for committing an assault.
Ross was originally charged with carrying a weapon – a mop handle – in committing an assault but pleaded guilty to the included offence of assault on April 10. The matter was adjourned to April 24 for sentencing. Judge Claudine MacDonald handed Ross a conditional discharge with one year of probation.
Ross committed the offence in North Kentville on Nov. 18, 2017.
Assault, undertaking offence
Gregory Scott Pratt, 55, of Kentville, has been handed a conditional discharge with probation for committing an assault and failing to comply with his undertaking.
Pratt pleaded guilty to the two charges on April 24 and the matters were adjourned to April 25 for sentencing. Judge Claudine MacDonald handed Pratt a conditional discharge with 15 months or probation on the two charges. Pratt was fined a total of $200 in victim surcharges and was ordered to complete 20 hours of community service work in relation to the undertaking charge.
Pratt committed the offences in Kentville on Feb. 14 and March 4.
Suspended sentence for uttering threat
Marshall Edward Miller, 54, of Kentville, has been handed a suspended sentence with probation for uttering a threat to cause bodily harm or death to a member of the Kentville Police Service.
Miller changed his plea to guilty on April 25. Judge Ronda Van Der Hoek handed Miller a suspended sentence with 12 months of probation.
Miller committed the offence in Kentville on Oct. 9, 2017. A charge of uttering a threat to cause bodily harm or death to another individual was dismissed on April 25 with the Crown offering no evidence.
Uttered threat, undertaking offence
Zachary Samuel D. Lifsches, 33, of Dartmouth, has been handed a suspended sentence with probation for uttering a threat to cause bodily harm to an individual and failing to comply with his undertaking.
Lifsches pleaded guilty to the charges on April 24. Judge Claudine MacDonald handed Lifsches a suspended sentence with one year of reporting probation on the two charges and fined him a total of $200 in victim surcharges. The court imposed a five-year firearm prohibition against Lifsches in relation to the charge of uttering a threat.
Lifsches committed the offences in Aylesford on Feb. 11 and March 16. A charge of willfully attempting to obstruct the course of justice in a judicial proceeding by dissuading or attempting to dissuade an individual from giving evidence by threats, bribes or other corrupt means was withdrawn on April 24.
Breathalyser offence
Devin Mark Whynot, 33, of Liverpool, has been fined for operating a motor vehicle while his blood alcohol level exceeded the legal limit.
Whynot pleaded guilty to the charge on April 24. Judge Claudine MacDonald fined Whynot a total of $1,950 and imposed an 18-month driving prohibition against him.
Whynot committed the offence in Greenwich on Dec. 7, 2017. The legal blood alcohol limit is 80 mg of alcohol in 100 ml of blood. Whynot gave breathalyser readings of 210 and 210.
Impaired driving
Morgan Olden Lynch, 32, of Casey’s Corner, has been fined for operating a motor vehicle while his blood alcohol level exceeded the legal limit.
Lynch pleaded guilty to the charge on April 24. Judge Claudine MacDonald fined Lynch a total of $1,430 and imposed a one-year driving prohibition against him.
Lynch committed the offence in Casey’s Corner on Dec. 31, 2017. The legal blood alcohol limit is 80 mg of alcohol in 100 ml of blood. Lynch’s blood alcohol reading was 130.
Stole from pharmacy, failed to attend court
Thomas Michael Johnstone, 19, of Wolfville, has been fined and sentenced to probation for stealing items valued at less than $5,000 from Cochrane’s Pharmasave, including energy drinks, wireless speakers, fitness gloves and personal lubricants; and for failing to attend court in accordance with a Promise to Appear in which he had been named.
Johnstone pleaded guilty to the two charges on March 27 and the matters were adjourned to April 25 for sentencing. Judge Claudine MacDonald fined Johnstone $65 on each count, for a total of $130 in fines. Johnstone was also sentenced to 12 months of probation on the two charges, including 20 hours of community service work in relation to the theft charge.
Johnstone committed the offences in Wolfville between Nov. 5 and 11, 2017, and in Kentville on Jan. 30, 2018.
Conditional discharge for mischief
Brandon Ronald Marsters, 20, of Kentville, has been handed a conditional discharge with probation for committing mischief by willfully damaging an individual’s property to a value not exceeding $5,000.
Marsters pleaded guilty to the charge in February and the matter was adjourned to April 25 to allow time for a pre-sentence report to be prepared and for sentencing. Judge Claudine MacDonald handed Marsters a conditional discharge with 15 months of probation, including restitution of $1,423.18 payable to the benefit of the victim. The restitution is to be paid at a rate of $100 a month starting May 10.
Marsters committed the offence in Kentville on Dec. 31, 2017.
Recognizance offence
Dale Steven MacTavish, 29, of no fixed address, has been fined and sentenced to probation for failing to comply with his recognizance. MacTavish failed to comply with a condition that he was not permitted to be on Webster Street in Kentville.
MacTavish pleaded guilty to the charge on April 24. Judge Claudine MacDonald fined him a total of $32.50 and sentenced him to six months of reporting probation, including 30 hours of community service work.
MacTavish committed the offence in Kentville on March 14.
Stole energy drinks
Jessica Josephine Hazel, 24, of Kentville, has been fined for stealing Monster energy drinks from Walmart.
Hazel pleaded guilty to the charge on April 24. Judge Claudine MacDonald fined Hazel a total of $32.50.
Hazel committed the offence in New Minas on Feb. 24.
