Sentencing delayed for man who kidnapped, assaulted cab driver

A switch in defence counsel has pushed sentencing back into the new year for a man who pled guilty to the kidnapping, sexual assault and robbery of a cab driver in November 2016.

Shawn Thomas Baldhead was originally set to be sentenced Tuesday after entering guilty pleas in August to numerous charges stemming from the Nov. 24, 2016 incident — but at the end of November, his lawyer came off the record and a new one came on the record.

This lawyer requested sentencing be pushed into the new year — but this hit a snag as the judge who heard the guilty plea and was seized for sentencing is set to retire at the end of the year.

On Tuesday, this judge granted the request he be unseized for sentencing, with it now set to go before a new judge on March 14, 2017.

According to agreed statement of facts, Baldhead kidnapped, threatened and sexually assaulted a female taxi driver. With her in the vehicle, drove to Calgary, making stops in Brooks and Strathmore along the way. The woman was eventually allowed to leave the vehicle, but Baldhead threatened to kill her family if she told anyone what happened.

Baldhead was later arrested by Calgary police. Defence counsel at the time of entering the guilty pleas said substance abuse was part of the whole incident, and her client is not in a position to dispute the facts.

A pre-sentencing report, Gladue Report and other reports were requested to be put together before proceeding with his sentencing.