Straighten out your life, judge tells prisoner

A local judge warned a man he described as having a “terrible” criminal record to straighten himself out or risk losing not only his freedom but also the respect of his daughter.

“At this point, at age eight, she looks at you and probably all she sees is daddy,” Judge Fergus O’Donnell told Joseph Hachey.

“She probably thinks that’s wonderful. But as she gets older, she’s going to wonder why daddy is not around and she’s going to figure out daddy’s not around because he’s in jail.”

Hachey was sentenced to 39 days in jail after pleading guilty Friday in an Ontario Court of Justice to several charges including assault with a weapon. He was also placed on probation for two years.

The judge said the defendant’s criminal record was an aggravating factor in the case, adding the man’s record indicates a “substantial level of violence and a huge element of disobeying court orders.”

The 34-year-old St. Catharines resident has 17 convictions for failing to comply with court orders.

“I assume you won’t take it as an insult if I describe your record as terrible,” the judge asked. “No,” the defendant replied. He told the judge he wants to be a “good influence’ to his daughter.

O’Donnell warned it will be difficult to maintain a positive relationship with his child if he keeps finding himself behind bars.

“Your ability to be a good influence evaporates,” he said.

Hachey came to the attention of Niagara Regional Police in June after his former room-mate was struck in the head by a rock as he walked to the police station in St. Catharines.

Court heard the defendant began to follow the man after he ran into him near the public library.

Feeling uncomfortable, the victim began to walk toward the nearby police station. The defendant then threw a rock at the back of man’s head, resulting in a two-inch gash to his skull.