COURT report

Charge of killing kittens withdrawn

The Crown has withdrawn a charge against a Centreville man who was accused of killing kittens without a lawful excuse.

Daniel Walter Friesen, 64, was not present in Kentville provincial court on Nov. 7 when the charge was withdrawn. It had been alleged that Friesen committed the offence in Aldershot between July 10 and 31.

The Nova Scotia SPCA issued a news release on Sept. 14 that stated the charge was laid following an investigation into information the SPCA received in July regarding the possible disappearance of a litter of kittens. It had been alleged that Friesen owned, and intentionally drowned, the kittens.

Intermittent custody

Franklin Dale McKay, 28, of Greenwood, has been sentenced to intermittent custody and probation for operating a motor vehicle while disqualified and failing to comply with his recognizance.

McKay was present in Kentville provincial court in custody on Nov. 6. He pleaded guilty to both charges. Judge Alan Tufts sentenced McKay to 90 days of intermittent custody, to be served from Fridays at 9 p.m. to Mondays at 6:30 a.m. beginning Nov. 10.

McKay will also be on probation until his time is served. The court imposed a two-year driving prohibition against McKay in relation to the charge of driving while disqualified.

McKay committed the offences in Coldbrook on Nov. 2.

Meanwhile, Courtney Lynn Stronach, 28, of Wolfville, was also sentenced to intermittent custody for stealing cosmetics from Shoppers Drug Mart, failing to comply with probation and four counts of failing to comply with her recognizance.

Stronach pleaded guilty or changed her pleas to guilty to the six charges on Nov. 7. Judge Alan Tufts sentenced Stronach to 60 days of intermittent custody, to be served from Fridays at 9 p.m. to Mondays at 6 a.m. beginning Nov. 10. Stronach will be on probation during her intermittent custody and for 12 months thereafter.

Stronach committed the offences in Wolfville on June 17 and Nov. 2, in Coldbrook on Aug. 4 and in Cambridge on Oct. 9. Another count of failing to comply with probation and a charge of resisting a police officer engaged in the execution of his duty were dismissed on Nov. 7.

Uttered threats, possessed cocaine

Kevin Wayne Rhynold, 47, of North Kentville, has been fined for uttering threats and unlawfully possessing cocaine.

Rhynold was originally charged with criminal harassment but pleaded guilty to the included offence of uttering threats on Nov. 8. He changed his plea to guilty to the possession charge on Nov. 8.

Judge Alan Tufts fined Rhynold a total of $390 for possessing cocaine and fined him a total of $260 for uttering threats.

Rhynold committed the offences in North Kentville and Centreville on May 16.

Flight from police

Michael Jody James Paul, 20, of Kentville, has been handed a conditional discharge with probation after pleading guilty to a charge of flight from police.

Paul had originally been charged with dangerous driving but pleaded guilty to the lesser offence of flight from police in April. The matter was adjourned to allow time for a pre-sentence report to be prepared and for sentencing.

On Nov. 8, Judge Ronda Van Der Hoek handed Paul a conditional discharge with nine months of probation.

Paul committed the offence in Kentville on Sept. 9, 2016.

Damaged property

Savannah Angelina Veinotte, 22, of Kentville, has been handed a conditional discharge with probation for wilfully damaging property to a value not exceeding $5,000.

Veinotte pleaded guilty to the charge in March and a presentence report was requested in May. The matter was adjourned to allow time for the report to be prepared and for sentencing.

On Nov. 8, Judge Ronda Van Der Hoek handed Veinotte a conditional discharge with 12 months of probation.

Veinotte committed the offence in Canning on Jan. 13. A charge of unlawfully entering a house with intent to commit an indictable offence therein was withdrawn on Nov. 8.

Failed to attend court

Erin Dorrington, 28, of Truro, has been handed a conditional discharge with probation for failing to attend court in accordance with a summons.

Dorrington changed her plea to guilty on Nov. 6. Judge Ronda Van Der Hoek handed Dorrington a conditional discharge with six months of non-reporting probation. The court ordered Dorrington to make a $100 charitable donation to Chrysalis House.

Dorrington committed the offence in Kentville on Sept. 27, 2016. A charge of failing to comply with probation and two more counts of failing to attend court as directed were dismissed on Nov. 6.

Undertaking offences

Trevor John Levy, 32, of Windsor, has been fined for two counts of failing to comply with his undertaking.

Levy changed his pleas to guilty on Nov. 7. Judge Ronda Van Der Hoek fined Levy $230 on each count, for a total of $460 in fines.

Levy committed the offences in Bishopville on May 29 and July 26. A charge of wilfully damaging property to a value not exceeding $5,000 was dismissed on Nov. 7.