Mansentenced totwoyears in prison for vicious beating

MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO AGGRAVATED ASSAULT

A 27-year-old manwho stomped and kicked anotherman during a vicious beating in 2017 has been sent to prison.

TraiDakota Spearchief pleaded guiltyWednesday in Lethbridge provincial court to a charge of aggravated assault, andwas sentenced to two years in a federal penitentiary.

Witnesses reported to police that they saw a group of people assaulting aman, who had fallen to the ground during the attack andwas unable to defend himself. The group, which included Spearchief, continued to stomp and kick their victim multiple times, and Spearchief was seen

delivering “soccer-style” kicks to the man’s head.

The victim’s jaw, nose and check boneswere broken, and one of the attackers carved the letter B into his back. That B, Crown prosecutor Michael Fox explained, likely refers to the Bloods, one of twowell-known gangs in the area. The other gang is the Crypts.

Although Lethbridge lawyerDarcy Shurtz said Spearchief does not belong to a gang, Fox pointed out the other assailants may be members of the Crypt gang.

The victim, NicholasHeavy Runner, had a red bandana in his pocket, which is associated with the Bloods, Fox noted, and he iswell known to the Crypts. He also has a criminal record, which is recognized byweight, not by the number of pages, Fox added, and he is currently in custody and facing charges relating to a recent stabbing in Lethbridge.

Shurtz told court Spearchief struggles with alcohol— he began drinking when he was 12— and he was intoxicated at the time of the beating. He grewup inanabusive home, and his father and grandparents attended residential schools, but he doesn’t have a history of violence and he is not a member of a gang, although members have tried to recruit him.

“He’s not a violent individual,” Shurtz said.

Although sentenced to two years in prison, Fox said he initially considered recommending to the judge a sentence of two and a half years. He reconsidered the recommendation, however, after discussing the case with Spearchief’s lawyer and recognizing the young man’s potential.

Spearchief, who apologized in court, is also prohibited from possessing firearms for a specified length of time, and he must submit a sample of hisDNA for theNational DNADatabank.