Woman jailed for assaults

Drug-induced assaults in which an elderly man was struck with a purse, a woman pushed up against a car and a bank employee threatened has resulted in a jail sentence for a 38-year-old mother and grandmother.

Stacy Leah Dawn White Man pleaded guilty Thursday in Lethbridge provincial court to charges of assault, uttering threats, resisting arrest, possession of a stolen bank card and breach of recognizance, for which she was sentenced to six months behind bars.

Court was told White Man’s offences began on Aug. 31 when she approached a man outside the Army and Navy building downtown who was cleaning the area after someone had knocked over a disposal container for cigarette butts. White Man yelled at him to get off her land, then punched him in the face.

Nearly a month later, just before 1 p.m. on Oct. 24, White Man was near a downtown bank when she approached a woman who had just completed some bank business and was returning to her car. White Man told the woman “give me your money if you know what’s good for you,” then pushed the woman against her parked car when she replied she didn’t have any money to give her. White Man ran away when two witnesses intervened.

Only minutes later White Man approached a 70-year-old man and accused him of having her money. Police reported she then swung her purse and struck him in the face. The force of the blow cut the victim’s upper lip, which required multiple stitches to close.

White Man then left the area and entered another bank where she began swearing and yelling at customers inside the foyer. She left after staff intervened, but she returned and resumed yelling and intimidating customers. She was told to leave again, and did, but she returned shortly afterward where she made stabbing motions with her hands and told people she would “chop their heads off.” She also threatened to kill the bank manager.

When police arrived, White Man repeatedly struggled against their efforts to arrest her, but she was eventually handcuffed and searched, during which she was found in possession of someone else’s debit card.

Lethbridge lawyer Claudia Connolly said her client has struggled throughout her life and was using drugs at the time of the offences. But, she added, White Man is trying hard to change.

“She’s been making some real efforts to get her life in order,” Connolly said.

Judge Eric Peterson said White Man’s behaviour is unacceptable, but he agreed with the joint submission by the Crown and defence for the sixmonth jail sentence. He gave her credit, however, for the equivalent of 24 days spent in custody before she was sentenced, leaving slightly more than five months to serve.

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