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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2009-10-22, Page 10PAGE 10. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2009.A 26-year-old Blyth man isspending six months in jail afterentering guilty pleas to severalcharges in Wingham’s provincial court, Oct. 15. Attorney for the Crown Teresa Donnelly said Martin Masowa was charged with one count of assault, one of resisting arrest, and two of failing to comply with court orders, following an incident in North Huron, Aug. 1. According to Donnelly, on that day Masowa was visiting an acquaintance. He was intoxicated and eventually was asked to leave, she said. The situation escalated until the two fought. Donnelly said Masowa struck the victim in the head causing some bruising. When police arrived and tried to arrest Masowa he tried to pull away from the handcuffs. Then Donnelly said, once they got him into the rear seat of the cruiser, Masowa tried pulling the back of the seat away from the trunk which contained a number of items including a high- powered rifle, said Donnelly. The accused was on two-years’ probation at the time of this arrest. Regarding the fourth charge, Donnelly said that Masowa’s parents had signed a surety that he would not leave their home unless accompanied by one of them. OPP were called to the home Sept. 2 because Masowa had become angry over house rules. Donnelly said his parents, concerned for their safety, called police. “He left in a rage,” said Donnelly. Donnelly told Judge R.G.E. Hunter that Masowa’s probation officer says the “outlook for Masowa is bleak”. Defence counsel said Masowa’s biological mother and father separated when he was young and he was initially left with his mother. Her client, who has since been diagnosed with fetal alcohol syndrome, was “actually supplied with alcohol as a small child” by the mother, she said. Despite this he has managed lately to set some positive goals and does wish to rehabilitate. Hunter sentenced Mosawa, who had been in custody for 50 days, to an additional 30 days for the assault, 30 days consecutive for the resisting arrest and 30 days concurrent on the fail to comply charges for a total of 60 days. He is on probation for 18 months and is to have no contact with his parents without their written consent. Masowa is prohibited from owning any weapons for five years. THEFT Chantal Gillanders of Mitchell pled guilty to theft under $5,000. Donnelly said at 3 p.m. Oct. 7, an employee in the Seaforth LCBO reported to police that a couple had taken two 1.75 litre bottles of vodka. Both items were recovered when the pair was arrested. Donnelly said Gillanders’ record dates back to 1992. Hunter sentenced the woman, who had been in custody for five days to time served and placed her on 12 months probation. LEAVE THE SCENE Hendrick Blom of Wingham was charged with failing to stop at the scene of an accident and with driving with no insurance. He pled guilty. Donnelly said Blom was involved in a two-vehicle collision in Wingham on Nov. 21 at 9 p.m. After apologizing to the other driver, said Donnelly, the accused drove away. The other driver followed him to his house. Blom had no insurance on thevehicle.Defence counsel Phil Cornishasked for some leniency on the fine which would be “a major hardship” for his client. Hunter fined Blom $500 for failing to stop and gave him six months to pay. He was fined $1,000 on the second charge which he has nine months to pay. He is prohibited from driving for 12 months and is on probation for a year. Hunter also ordered him to make $1,032 restitution within nine months to the insurance company and $47.48 to the driver of the other vehicle in 30 days. OVER 80 Derek Tout of Wroxeter pled guilty to driving with over 80 mg of alcohol in 100 ml of blood. Donnelly said at 11:15 p.m. Aug. 15 an officer on patrol in Morris- Turnberry saw a pickup turn a corner rapidly, practically crossing a lawn. Tout showed signs of impairment and was taken to the detachment for breathalyzer readings which showed 200 and 190 mg of alcohol in 100 ml of blood. He has no prior record. Hunter fined Tout $1,000. He has lost his licence for a year and must pay the fine in three months. CARELESS Steve Fritz of RR2, Blyth pled guilty to a lesser charge of careless driving. Donnelly said Fritz drove past an officer at a high rate of speed before turning into a driveway. The officer noticed an odour of alcohol coming from the accused, said Donnelly. Hunter fined Fritz, $1,200 and placed him on probation for six months during which he must abstain from alcohol. Fritz is not to operate a motor vehicle between 8 p.m.and 7 a.m. on weekdays or anytime on Saturdays and Sundays withthe exception of heavy equipmentfor his business. CRUELTY TO ANIMALS A woman who dumped some kittens at the side of a road was fined $500 for cruelty to animals. Donnelly said that on Sept. 19, a witness saw a woman in a silver car slow and drop three kittens out.The witness obtained the licence plate and contacted police before picking up the kittens which were “okay, just hungry.” Henrietta Hanson pled guilty to the charge. Duty counsel Grant MacKinnon said Hanson has had a number of kittens dropped off at her place and “in the past has done her best for them. On this occasion she decided to pass the problem on to another person with a farm.” Hunter did not agree however with MacKinnon’s assessment that, as Hanson did not wilfully harm the kittens, the incident was “not exactly cruelty”. “What would you call it?” countered Hunter. “She dropped them off on the side of the road.” Hunter gave Hanson, who has convictions for non-related offences from 1991,1987 and 1988, 60 days to pay the fine. She can’t own or have custody or control of any animals for two years. CAUSING DISTURBANCE Thomas Farquhar of Ripley pled guilty to a lesser charge of causing a disturbance. Donnelly said officers were called to a residence in North Huron at 9:30 p.m. May 23. A young man was outside swearing, and he struck a sign post with a bat. The people living inside said the group had been making phone calls to the residence and while Farquhar was not the one making the noise, Donnelly said, itseemed that he was the reason thegroup went to the house as he had aproblem with the person who lived there. Farquhar has a record for theft under $5,000 and break and enter from 2005. Hunter fined him $300 and place him on 12 months probation.Farquhar has six months to pay the fine. ASSAULT A Wingham man pled guilty to assault. Donnelly said on Aug. 14 an officer on patrol in North Huron saw the accused, Adam Wilkins, 27, giving a much younger boy a hug. “The officer spoke to the boy after and he was visibly shaken,” said Donnelly. He told the police that he didn’t know Wilkins and had only talked to him once before. “He had stopped the boy and asked him if he could feel his muscle, kiss his muscle and give him a hug.” The youth had said no, but Wilkins persisted. The accused, said Donnelly, suffers from a number of disorders including developmental delay. Hunter gave him a conditional discharge and place him on 12 months probation. Wilkins is prohibited from owning weapons for five years. ASSAULT A Toronto man pled guilty to an assault that occurred in Central Huron. On July 27, the victim and the accused, John Scott, began arguing outside a residence in Clinton, said Donnelly and Scott slapped the victim in the face. Donnelly said that the woman has said Scott, who has no prior record,“is not generally abusive.”Hunter suspended passing ofsentence and placed Scott, 20, on probation for 12 months. He is prohibited from owning weapons for five years. ASSAULT WITH A WEAPON Faith Weber, 30, or RR1, Stratford pled guilty to assault with a weapon. Donnelly said that on July 4 at 11 p.m. during an argument between Weber and the victim, the accused grabbed a broom by the handle and struck the victim over the head. The Crown went on to say that earlier in the day, the tables had been turned and the victim had assaulted the accused. He was also facing charges, Donnelly said. Weber has no prior record. Hunter suspended passing of sentence and placed Weber on 12 months probation. She was ordered to provide a sample of her DNA and is prohibited from owning weapons for five years. BREAK AND ENTER On July 30, a former Wingham resident was at a local restaurant with an employee and another male after hours. The employee was serving drinks and Donnelly said that later the manager discovered there was no cash in the register for some of the items sold. Also, a video showed that later in the evening, a man entered the building wearing a mask. He tookvarious bottles of liquor, beer and $240 cash. Donnelly said it was believed that the accused, Matthew Hoffele, now of London, had taken the employee’s key earlier without her knowledge. The Crown added that the employee has also been charged. Court newsMan gets an additional 6 months in jail NOTICE OF PROPOSED SALE OF PROPERTY Notice is hereby given that the Corporation of the Township of North Huron has declared the following properties to be surplus to its needs and intends to dispose of the subject property. Description of Property: Registered Plan 22R-5208, Part 1 Registered Plan 410, Park Lot 9 Town of Wingham Township of North Huron The Township of North Huron will consider offers to purchase the subject property until 11:00 a.m. on October 30, 2009. Please contact the Municipal Office for information about the proposed sale. Kriss Snell, CAO/Clerk Township of North Huron 519-357-3550 Dated at the Township of North Huron this 14th day of October, 2009. NOTICE OF PROPOSED SALE OF PROPERTY Notice is hereby given that the Corporation of the Township of North Huron has declared the following properties to be surplus to its needs and intends to dispose of the subject property. Description of Property: Registered Plan 431, Part Lot 174, Part Lot 175 Town of Wingham Township of North Huron The Township of North Huron will consider offers to purchase the subject property until 11:00 a.m. on October 30, 2009. Please contact the Municipal Office for information about the proposed sale. Kriss Snell, CAO/Clerk Township of North Huron 519-357-3550 Dated at the Township of North Huron this 16th day of October, 2009. Continued on page 28