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The Citizen, 2004-11-25, Page 23BUYING FOR A MINOR IS A MAJOR OFFENCE Supply alcohol to a minor and you're risking their health and safety. You also risk up to one year in jail and up to $200,000 in fines. If you're old enough to buy alcohol legally, be responsible. Be responsible. Don't buy for minors. Get Your Message AROUND THE WORLD IMMEDIATELY If you have important papers that need to go somewhere FAST ... use THE CITIZEN'S FAX MACHINE! Our Fax machine can contact any other Fax machine, in the world, instantly. We offer this service for a cost of $4.00 per printed sheet for the first one and $1.00 per additional sheet. (And the long distance charges are free in North America) Our Fax Number, is also your number, so use it to receive your messages at $1.00 per sheet. HERE ARE OUR FAX NUMBERS... BLYTH 523-9140 BRUSSELS 887-9021 WE CAN RECEIVE 24 HRS. PER DAY! THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2004. PAGE 23. Court news Man sentenced to 3 years in penitentiary A Wingham man is in penitentiary after pleading guilty to four charges in Wingham's provincial court, Nov. 18. Scott Soloman was charged with one count of driving with over 80 mg of alcohol in 100 ml of blood and three counts of driving while disqualified. According to attorney for the Crown, Frank Cameron, on Aug. 7, an OPP officer stopped Soloman in Brussels after he had squealed the tires of his pickup. There was a bottle of beer beside Soloman, who was the lone occupant. Beer was also found under the driver's seat. The investigation revealed that Solomon's licence had been suspended for life for previous impaired charges. Breathalizer readings were 140 mg of alcohol in 100 ml of blood. On Sept. 1 a Wingham police officer saw Soloman driving a car. Then on Oct. 31, again in Wingham, the police saw a car stopped at a stop sign. The driver was Solomon. Defence counsel Tim Macdonald said that on both of those occasions his client had been driving home impaired friends. "It's not an excuse. He shouldn't have done it, but that's the reason." Macdonald also noted that while there were many convictions, the most recent had been six months before these charges. He said the 37- year-old had started going to AA. "He realizes if he doesn't change now, he's going to be doing life by the installment plan." Macdonald said that while his client's record was "terrible", he had managed to keep working. Noting that Soloman had pled guilty, had taken steps to change and had been in custody since Oct. 31, Macdonald asked for a one year sentence. Judge R.G.E. Hunter had other ideas, however, "He's looking at penitentiary time." He sentenced him to 2 1/2 years for the over-80 charge and six months on the August charge of driving while disqualified to be served consecutively. He received two months concurrent on the other charges for a total of three years. Soloman is prohibited from driving for life. House arrest Alex Henderson of Bluevale was sentenced to six months house arrest for fraud. Henderson. had pled guilty in the October court to the charges. Facts and sentencing were postponed so that a pre-sentence report could be prepared. According to Cameron, Henderson as treasurer of the National Wild Turkey Federation of Ontario, was one of two people with signing authority for the cheques. Because of distance between the two people, several cheques had been pre-signed by the co-signer. In 2003 when money was needed to purchase guns for a draw, it was discovered that the account was depleted, said Cameron. The Federation president asked for the statements and found that 'they had been altered. Official statements from the bank eventually determined that Henderson had written 34 cheques totalling $14,143.46 from February 2001 to August 2003. Defence counsel Mike Donnelly said that the problem co-incided with a back injury in 2001 that left Henderson unable to work for a time. Several options had been considered for the 44-year-old to make restitution but to date the money had not been paid. Cameron said that the big issue was the breach of trust compounded by the fact that Henderson had tried "to hide his tracks". He asked for incarceration to serve "as a deterrent to him and others." With the conditional sentence, Henderson can only leave his residence for employment and a reasonable time for travel to and from work. He can purchase groceries only between the hours of Saturday noon to 3 p.m. He can also leave his house for emergencies or any other reason specified by his probation officer. During his sentence he must abstain from alcohol and must submit to a breathalizer any time police ask. He must make restitution in the amount of $300 a month minimum with payment in full within 36 months. Over 80 Gary G. Weber of Lucknow pled guilty to driving with over 80 mg of alcohol in 100 ml of blood. Cameron said on May 29 in North Huron police were called regarding a man who had left the beer store and was felt to be unfit to drive. When stopped, officers detected an odour of alcohol and Weber admitted to having three beers an hour earlier. The breathalizer readings were 230 mg of alcohol in 100 ml of blood. Counsel Lynn Johnston noted that while her client had impaired charges from 1991, 1992 and 1996, he also had many health problems and requested that house arrest be considered by the judge. Cameron requested that there also be a lengthy period of probation and driving suspension to "protect the public". Weber was sentenced to six months house arrest. He can• leave only for emergencies, and Saturdays from noon until 3 p.m. for grocery shopping. He must abstain from alcohol and police have the right to enter his home to take a breathalizer test at any time. His licence has been suspended for two years. "Any breach and you will be doing six months behind bars," said Hunter. Drive while disqualified A Huron East. man is serving 21 days intermittently after pleading guilty to driving while disqualified. Allan Stokes, 60, was charged in Howick, March 7. The licence plate on his vehicle was covered in mud and the numbers were unreadable, said Cameron. When police stopped him he could not produce a licence and it was eventually determined that he had been prohibited from driving as the result of an over 80 conviction from October 2002. He will serve his sentence on Wednesdays and Thursdays. Cause disturbance A bad temper cost a Wingham man $750 after he entered a guilty plea to causing a public disturbance. Jordan Nixon was arrested after police were called to a pharmacy on Sept. 9. According to Cameron, Nixon became quite angry when questioned by the pharmacist as to why he wanted boric acid and began shouting. Asked to leave, Nixon returned when he saw a clerk write down his licence plate number, and demanded that she give him the paper. He has a May 3 conviction for causing a disturbance. In addition to the fine, Nixon is on 12 months probation and was ordered to stay away from the pharmacy. He as given three months to pay the fine. Assault A Wingham man pled guilty to assault. The complainant told police that during a visit with Charles Dowell, the two had begun arguing. Dowell threw the victim onto the couch and put his hands around her neck saying he was going to kill her. Cameron said the victim managed to get away and went to Wingham. Pentecostal Church for shelter. Hunter suspended passing of sentence and placed Dowell on two years probation.