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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2007-01-25, Page 14THE CITIZEN. THURSDAY, JANUARY 25, 2007. PAGE 15. A Teeswater woman was sentenced to 60 days in jail following an appearance in Wingham’s provincial court, Jan. 18. Diane Foxton, 48, pled guilty to two counts of driving while impaired. Crown attorney Bob Morris said the accused was arrested in Goderich, Oct. 10 at 4:25 p.m. A nurse at the hospital told police that a female, who was obviously intoxicated, had come into the hospital to pick up some medication. Police found Foxton’s vehicle travelling west on Huron Road. “It was straddling both eastbound lanes with a long line of traffic behind,” said Morris. Foxton pulled into a parking lot and when she exited police noted that she was staggering. Speaking with her they detected other signs of impairment. Less than two months later, police were contacted about a possible impaired driver coming from Teeswater to Wingham. Shortly, afterwards, Foxton was seen leaving Wingham’s LCBO parking lot. “Police observed the driver drinking from a bottle,” said Morris. Foxton has a previous conviction for impaired from May 15, 2003. Duty counsel John Myers said Foxton had a “number of issues she is dealing with on an on-going basis”, including alcohol dependency. He added that she has received counselling in the past and has currently attended AA. “She does have long periods of sobriety, but obviously crashes occur.” “She is quite devastated in terms of what’s before her,” he said, asking Judge R.G.E. Hunter to consider her early guilty plea and her efforts to deal with her addiction. Hunter sentenced her to 15 days on the first charge and 45 on the second. Foxton is prohibited from driving for three years and will serve 12 months probation. Her sentence will be served on an intermittent basis. FINED A man who pled guilty at November’s court to four charges of assault was fined a total of $2,000 and placed on 12 months probation. Michael Hurst of Palmerston was arrested in Howick following an incident at 1 a.m. June 18. The Crown said the 29-year-old who was intoxicated at the time, had become involved in an altercation at a beer tent. When security tried to intervene, the accused punched two people, the kicked another in the groin, causing the man to lose consiousness twice. After police placed him in handcuffs, Hurst said he would leave peacefully. When the cuffs were removed he ran past the cruiser and tackled one of the victims. A pre-sentence report painted a different picture of the accused than the events of June 18 did. Defence counsel presented letters of recommendation, as well as letters of apology written to the victims. “These were unsolicited. (Hurst) handed them to me without any suggestion on my part,” said counsel. Letters on his behalf spoke of Hurst’s work in the community as a volunteer and demonstrated the “strong backing” he had from friends and family, his attorney noted. “It’s not necessary for me to re-iterate what the community thinks of this man.” “This was totally out of character. That’s not to say that it wasn’t a serious incident, but Mr. Hurst has certainly reflected upon it. His remorse it genuine and it’s not going to be something that will be happening in the future.” Noting that the implications of a criminal convictions will be onerous for his client, not just in his volunteer work, but through his employment, which requires him to cross the U.S. border, counsel hoped Hunter would consider leniency. “Considering the nature of the offence I am not giving him a conditional discharge,” said the judge. Hurst was fined $500 for each charge. He has 90 days to pay. In addition to probation, Hurst is also prohibited from owning weapons for a period of five years. MISCHIEF Philip Leger of Port Elgin, pled guilty in November to committing mischief, to break and enter, to failing to comply with conditions of bail and to threatening. Facts were presented Thursday. On March 20, Leger had gone to a residence around 11 p.m. and had caused damage to a door and window by slamming and kicking it. The victim called 911 and before police arrived, Leger had entered the residence a number of times apologizing for his behaviour, said the Crown. He was released on bail and was told to have no contact with the victim. However, she contacted police Aug. 7 to say Leger was calling her repeatedly and had shown up at her home. “He had entered uninvited and began yelling, shouting and kicked over a TV stand,” said Morris. Also during one visit he broke a window. Then on Aug. 9 at 1 a.m. the victim called police because Leger was at the door and trying to get in. Myers presented letters highlighting the 23-year-old’s progress through the past few months. He was referred to as a “personable young man, respectful and diligent.” Another said there has never been any “indication of anger.” Hunter fined him $300 on each charge for a total of $1,200. He has six months to pay. In addition he must serve 18 months probation. IMPAIRED George Steip of Wingham pled guilty to impaired driving. The 74-year-old was arrested Dec. 14 after police saw him “stumble out of the door” of a local pub and later get into a vehicle and drive away, said Morris. When stopped Steip displayed signs of impairment and officers detected an odour of alcohol. “At one point he said, ‘I hope the judge says I can’t drive. I’m getting too old’,” the Crown added. He was fined $750 and has had his licence suspended for one year. He was given 30 days to pay the fine. POSSESSION OF STOLEN PROPERTY A Gorrie woman faced charges of impaired driving and possession of stolen property over $5,000. Julie Frater, who pled guilty, was arrested Sept. 2 at 7:21 p.m. after police were dispatched to an accident on Hoover Line in East Wawanosh. Upon arrival they found a car and trailer wrapped around a hydro pole. Frater refused to take a breath test. It was later determined that the boat and trailer she had been towing were stolen from Walkerton. Myers said an individual had hooked up the stolen property to Frater’s vehicle and told her to deposit it near his residence. He explained that the 30-year-old accused had intended not to go through with the request, but was actually trying to return the property to the victim’s relative. Frater was fined $750 for the impaired driving charge and placed on 12-months probation for the possession charge. Her licence has been suspended for 12 months and Hunter gave her six months to pay the fine. PUBLIC DISTURBANCE A Wingham man was given six months to pay a $400 fine after pleading guilty to a charge of causing a public disturbance and to failing to comply with a court order. Police were called to a possible domestic dispute at 11:34 p.m. on June 14. They saw a female walking and a male following her. Morris said the accused, William Coates, ignored the officers’ request to stop and yelled at them. On Aug. 26 police responded to a fight at Teeswater. Coates, was there and had been drinking. He had been ordered to abstain from alcohol. He was fined $200 on each charge. FAIL TO COMPLY Sean Wolfe of London was charged with failing to comply with a probation order Dec. 4 in North Huron. He pled guilty. Morris said a gas station had contacted police because an intoxicated male, with no coat and no shoes had come into the business and laid down. The 30-year-old was fined $250 which he has six months to pay. Court newsTeeswater woman gets 60 days for driving drunk Three million Canadians have a hearing loss. I’m one of them. Don Harron To learn more about our medical research and public education programs and how you can help, call 1-866 HEAR YOU, toll free.