Man gets conditional sentence for assault using bat

A Priestville man will serve a conditional sentence after pleading guilty to assaulting another man in his community.

Donald Latter, 62, was sentenced in Pictou provincial court Monday on a charge of assault in relation to an incident on Nov. 17, 2017, in Priestville.

The court was told Latter called police at 6 a.m. on Nov. 17 to report that a man from the neighbourhood was causing a disturbance in front of his house and he believed he was going to try to get into his home.

Crown attorney Patrick Young said Latter went outside with a baseball bat in his hand and the confrontation between the two men ended with the victim being assaulted by Latter with the bat.

He said Latter returned to his home following the assault and called 911 again telling them the victim needed medical assistance.

The Crown and defence noted that police had been to Priestville earlier in the same evening to warn the victim about making a scene and if he didn’t stay in his home they were going to charge him with mischief. Police reported the victim was intoxicated when they spoke with him.

Judge Patrick Curran said Latter probably did feel threatened by having the victim come onto his property, but the use of a baseball bat was a dangerous response.

“You start swinging something like that and you can kill someone,” he said.

Curran said the joint recommendation proposed by the Crown and defence was the low end of possible sentences, but not outside the sentencing realm.

Latter was sentenced to serve a 90-day conditional sentence order that included 60 days of house arrest followed by 12 months’ probation. He also must pay a victim surcharge fine of $100 within six months.