Man who threw knife jailed

Nicholas Alexander Johnston sentenced for assault with a weapon, damaging property

THREE RIVERS – A Montague man who threw a knife at a vehicle and slapped a bystander was sentenced recently to 70 days in jail.

Nicholas Alexander Johnston, 36, appeared before Judge Nancy Orr in provincial court in Georgetown by video from jail where he has been in custody since his arrest on Dec. 20.

Johnston pleaded guilty to assault with a weapon and damaging property.

Crown attorney Chad McQuaid told the court that on Dec. 20 at around midnight, the RCMP responded to a disturbance near the CIBC in Montague and a report that a vehicle’s rear window had just been smashed.

McQuaid said a nearby resident went outside after hearing something and saw Johnston who he tried to calm down.

The court heard Johnston brandished a knife that was about 20 cm long and threw it at the vehicle as it was leaving the scene. After throwing the knife, Johnston slapped the witness in the face once, McQuaid said.

Defence lawyer Justin Milne told the court that type of offence was out of character for Johnston.

His mother reported Johnston’s mental health had been deteriorating, Milne said.

In sentencing Johnston, Orr accepted a joint recommendation from the Crown and defence.

Orr told Johnston he needs to get his addiction and mental health issues under control, otherwise he will keep going back before the court.

Along with the jail time, Johnston will be on probation for two years, which includes a condition he have no contact with the victims.

Johnston must write apology letters to the man he slapped and the vehicle’s owner. He must also pay $402.50 in restitution. Johnston must provide a DNA sample for the national databank and he will be subject to a weapons prohibition.