Kings and West Hants court report
JAIL TIME FOR FIREARM OFFENCES, THEFT
William Chris Lavers, 44, of Ellershouse, has been sentenced to jail time and probation after pleading guilty to three charges.
They include carrying a weapon, a rifle, for a purpose dangerous to the public peace; possessing a firearm, a rifle, without being the holder of a licence under which he may possess it; and stealing a laptop of a value not exceeding $5,000.
Lavers pleaded guilty to the two firearms offences on Aug. 22, 2023. The matters were adjourned to allow time for a pre-sentence report to be prepared and for sentencing. Prior to his sentencing hearing on Jan. 9, Lavers pleaded guilty to stealing the laptop.
Judge Ronda Van Der Hoek sentenced Lavers to 90 days in custody for carrying a rifle for a purpose dangerous to the public peace. The court imposed a 10-year weapons prohibition against him.
Lavers was sentenced to 90 days, to be served concurrently, for possessing a firearm without the necessary licence; and was sentenced to 30 days, to be served consecutively, for stealing a laptop, for a total of 120 days in custody on the three charges. Lavers was also sentenced to 18 months of probation on the three charges.
Lavers committed the offences in Ellershouse on July 1 and 14, 2023.
INTERMITTENT CUSTODY FOR REFUSING DEMAND
Jeffery Allan Stoddart, 30, of Nictaux, has been sentenced to intermittent custody and probation after pleading guilty to three charges.
They include refusing to comply with a demand made to him by a peace officer under Section 320.27 of the Criminal Code, which relates to screening drivers for the presence of alcohol and drugs; failing to comply with a condition of a release order, to have no direct or indirect contact or communication with an individual; and failing to comply with a probation order, to not occupy the driver’s seat of a motor vehicle.
Stoddart changed his plea to guilty on the refusal charge on Sept. 18, 2023. The matter was adjourned to allow time for a pre-sentence report to be prepared and for sentencing. Stoddart pleaded guilty to the release order and probation offences prior to his sentencing hearing on Jan. 9.
Judge Ronda Van Der Hoek sentenced Stoddart to 30 days of intermittent custody on the refusal charge, to be served from Fridays at 9 p.m. to Mondays at 6 a.m. beginning Jan. 26 and continuing every other weekend until the sentence is served. The court imposed a two-year driving prohibition against Stoddart.
Stoddart was sentenced to 15 days of intermittent custody, to be served concurrently, for the release order offence and 15 days of intermittent custody, to be served concurrently, for the probation offence. Stoddart was also sentenced to 18 months of probation on the three charges.
Stoddart committed the offences in Ellershouse on Feb. 12, 2022. Three more charges were dismissed on Jan. 9. They include another count of failing to comply with a condition of a release order; operating a conveyance while disqualified, and willfully obstructing a peace officer engaged in the execution of his duty by switching seats with a vehicle passenger.