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The Citizen, 1999-09-22, Page 13THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 1999. PAGE 13. Court news Man jailed for criminal harassment An Ethel man remains in jail for another 70 days following a court appearance in Wingham. Sept. 16. Gerald McLean, who has been in custody for the past three months pled guilty to charges of criminal harassment and failing to comply with court orders. According to Crown Attorney Bob Morris, the victim had been in a relationship with McLean for about two years. The defendant, Morris said, was an abusive alco­ holic and the victim eventually ended the relationship. From Feb. 16 to April 20, McLean called her repeatedly, over 200 times. Judge Hunter was told, and showed up at her home. Once, Morris said, she even found him inside. He also left notes in her car. “She has had someone stay with her since he left because she is afraid,” said Morris. On April 20, McLean came to the victim’s home and she refused to answer the door. Looking in the window and seeing her, he crawled into the basement. Morris said it took her 45 minutes to get him to leave after which she called police. On May 28, McLean was stopped for a traffic violation. He admitted he had been drinking and a check showed that he was on bail and was to abstain from the consumption of alcohol. Another condition of his bail was that he have no contact with his ex- girlfriend. On June 5, she told police that as she was leaving a driveway, McLean pulled in behind her and blocked her exit. On June 8 the accused visited the victim at her home and said he had legal papers for her. She told him to put them in the mailbox and he became irate, Morris said. He later called her to ask what she wanted done with the papers and when she said he could leave them in the mailbox, she said he threat­ ened to “kill her or anyone she was seen with. He also said he would kill himself,” Morris said. June 9, the victim found McLean had entered her vehicle while she was visiting a friend. He said he had papers for her, but none were left in the car. Defense counsel Mike Donnelly said that with regards to the threat, his client does not remember specif­ ically what was said. He noted that though McLean did have a record, he had not been con­ victed of anything since 1992. “Most are alcohol related and none of the assaults have been involving a female,” said Donnelly. “Alcohol and substance abuse has been his problem.” He asked Hunter to consider McLean's time in custody when passing sentence. Morris said the victim “expresses a desire to be left alone. And taking in the totality of the charges we would ask for additional jail time.” Hunter sentenced McLean to 60 days for the harassment and upon release that he serve two years pro­ bation. He was given concurrent terms of 20 days for the two breach charges and 30 days for the threat charge, as well as a consecutive sen­ tence of 10 days for failing to have no communication with the victim. Impaired A Grey Twp. man is serving a 30- day sentence after pleading guilty to impaired. Wayne Jacklin, RR2, Bluevale, was arrested June 18 following an accident in Grey. Morris said a driver noticed a car approaching from behind at a fast rate of speed. The car swerved to the left and drove through a ditch into a field. The witness then saw the driv­ er flee, while the passenger waited at the scene. When police arrived, Jacklin’s father said he had been driving. He was eventually charged with obstruction. Jacklin was later found, while driving back to the accident in a pickup. The police noticed signs of impairment and an odour of alcohol. Breathalizer readings were 210 and 220. Jacklin has a charge of impaired from 1992 and one for failing to provide a breath sample from 1988. He is serving his term intermit­ tently as he works full-time. He is prohibited from driving for a period of one year. Stolen autos Borrowing cars proved costly for three men in unrelated charges. Hunter was told that on June 5, Neil Wall of Lucknow was approached at a party by a girl who wanted a ride home. Unknown to the owner the girl had taken keys to a vehicle. Enroute Wall drove the vehicle into a river at the bottom of an embankment. The pair returned to the party and told the owner that they had taken the car. Morris had a receipt of $2,500 for payment of damages. Having pled guilty to theft, Wall was fined $1,000 and given six months to pay. Asked to leave a beer tent in Belgrave on July 18, Anthony Roden of RR3, Brussels found him­ self stranded. After looking for a ride, Roden began to walk home. He stopped at a driveway at the comer of County Rd. 16 and finding the keys in the parked vehicle, drove it away. He left it in the parking lot of the Brussels Stockyards and walked to a friend's. Roden pled guilty to the theft. He was fined $500 which he has six months to pay. He was also placed on 12 months probation. On July 4, police were notified about a stolen vehicle. Later witnesses saw it being driv­ en by Jeremy Barbour of Wingham. He was driving fast and eventually headed down the railway tracks. The tire went flat and after a time, he lost control. The vehicle rolled over and landed on the passenger’s side. Witnesses inquired to Barbour’s injuries and when they went to con­ tact police, he fled, Morris said. When they caught up with him, Barbour denied stealing the vehicle, but admitted he knew it was stolen when he drove it. He pled guilty to possession of stolen property. Hunter fined him $500 and placed him on 12 months probation. He has six months to pay the fine. Marijuana cultivation Bernice Rettinger, RR3, Brussels was fined $500 and placed on 12 months probation for marijuana cul­ tivation. She pled guilty. Morris said that on June 10 police received an anonymous tip regard­ ing planters full of marijuana at a County Rd. 16 residence. Rettinger consented to a search. Police found a total of 52 plants in various locations. Morris said the accused told police she was just experimenting when she started growing them this year. Defense counsel Charmian Hills noted that her client had co-operated fully with police and had never been in trouble before. Driving drunk Emmanuel Kuepfer, RR2, Bluevale pled guilty to over 80. He was stopped by police on May 29 in Grey. He admitted that he had consumed a couple of drinks, Morris said. Breathalizer readings were 140 and 130. Kuepfer has two prior convic­ tions, Jan. 5, 1987 and Feb. 15, 1968. He was fined $1,200 and lost his license for one year. Tyler Brown of Gorrie also pled guilty to over 80. He was stopped by police in Fordwich on July 25. They noticed signs of impairment and Brown admitted to consuming liquor. His breathalizer readings were 130 and 140. He was fined $750 and lost his license for one year. Andrew Pennington of RR2, Clifford was charged July 27 for driving drunk. He, too pled guilty to over 80. His breathalizer readings were both 120. In addition to the 12-month driv­ ing prohibition, Pennington was fined $750. Fraud A Vanastra man was charged for trying to defraud Huron County Social Services. Isaac Nelson admitted that he had made an application for assistance regarding the rental of an apartment Jan. 14. However, the apartment had been occupied by his mother, not Nelson, and had been vacated by her months earlier. Nelson, who said he had paid back $200, was fined $750 and placed on probation for 18 months, i He had 15 months to make full restitution in the amount of $1,718.95. “You miss a payment for no good reason and you’ll be back here,” warned Hunter. False information On Oct. 27, 1997, Jeremy Pasztor of RR2, Listowel, had made an application for assistance through Ontario Works. He was to notify them of any address change. He moved in February and continued to receive welfare payments to which he was not entitled. Defense Alan Mill said Pasztor’s mailing address had not changed with the move, and he was still entitled to welfare. He recommend­ ed the absolute minimum fine. Pasztor was fined $100. False pretenses A batch of bad cheques to Wing­ ham businesses landed a Wingham Thanks woman in court. Heather Ladd pled guilty to four counts in all. From April 11-April 20 a series of NSF cheques were written to J.D. Variety. On May 11, Ladd wrote a cheque to Home Video for $69.23 which was returned NSF as was one to Mini-Mart, dated May 17 for $38.74. On June 29 a cheque was written to Triangle Discount imthe amount of $35.09 on a closed account. Hunter suspended passing of sen­ tence. In addition to a 12-month probation period, he ordered Ladd to make restitution of $260 within nine months. “With your record, you get caught doing that again and you know where you’re going,” said Hunter. Kathy McDonald of Wingham also pled guilty to writing bad cheques. Hunter was told that McDonald had written a cheque to Brian’s Valu Mart on May 15 in the amount of $111.44. This was returned NSF. The accused has no prior convic­ tions. Hunter suspended passing of sen­ tence and placed McDonald on 12- months probation. She was given 11 months to make restitution. Breach An RR1, Desboro man on a two year probation period, was found in breach of that order on July 2 in Grey. Stopped by police in Ethel, Joshua Bignell was found to have beer in the car and given the road­ side test, blew a warning. A condition of his probation was that he consume no alcohol. He was fined $200 which he was given 90 days to pay. Industrial accident at Wescast On Sept. 14 just before 8 a.m. an industrial accident was reported occurring at Wescast Industries on Cone. 1 in Morris Twp. on County Rd. 86. OPP officers said a man had been pinned under a tractor while attempting to pull out a stuck forklift. An officer arriving at the scene found the Massey Ferguson farm tractor had flipped over next to the forklift. The tractor was Thieves take generator from shed On Sept. 16, shortly after 9 a.m. a farmer who lives on Cone. 4 in McKillop Twp. found his generator missing from a driving shed. The Power Take Off (PTO) Winpower Model 2540 generator was left sitting on a homemade steel trailer with an adjustable stand and brackets, inside an open shed. The owner reported that he hadn’t used the generator for the last three months and was unsure when the equipment was stolen. It is valued at $2,000 to replace. Anyone who can help police in locating the stolen property is asked to contact the Huron OPP or Crime Stoppers. upside down leaning against the forklift. Workers got the man free and he was taken by ambulance to Wingham and District Hospital for treatment. Stanley Petersen from Greenock Twp. near Paisley was released with a minor injury to his hand. The Ministry of Labour was called and was on scene investigating the incident. <30 Medic Alert SPEAKS FOR YOU 1-8DD-668-15D7 w w w . medicalert, ca £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ Ross Somers, right, was honoured on Wednesday evening by fellow Brussels firefighters for 20 years of service. Chief Murray McArter made a presentation. 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