Kings and West Hants court report
CONDITIONAL DISCHARGE FOR VARIOUS OFFENCES
Mitchell James Francis, 30, of Berwick, has been handed a conditional discharge with probation after pleading guilty to four charges.
They include willfully obstructing two peace officers engaged in the execution of their duty; uttering a threat to cause bodily harm to a peace officer; causing a disturbance in or near a public place, in the Staples parking lot, by shouting or swearing; and resisting a peace officer engaged in the execution of his duty by using force and trying to escape.
Francis pleaded guilty to the obstruction charge on Jan. 16. The matter was adjourned to March 12 to allow time for a pre-sentence report to be prepared and for sentencing. Francis pleaded guilty to the other three charges on March 12.
Judge Claudine MacDonald handed Francis a conditional discharge with 18 months of probation, including 20 hours of community service work, on the four charges.
offences Francis committed the in New Minas on Aug. 11 and Sept. 12, 2023. Three other charges were withdrawn on March 12. They include committing mischief by willfully damaging the property of the RCMP, a smoke detector; and two more counts of obstructing a peace officer engaged in the execution of his duty.
CONDITIONAL DISCHARGE FOR WEAPON OFFENCE
Evan Riley, 19, of Kentville, has been handed a conditional discharge with probation for carrying a weapon for a purpose dangerous to the public peace.
Riley pleaded guilty to the charge on Dec. 13, 2023. The matter was adjourned to March 12 to allow time for a pre-sentence report to be prepared and for sentencing.
Judge Claudine MacDonald handed Riley a conditional discharge with 15 months of probation, including 20 hours of community service work.
Riley committed the offence in Kentville on May 15, 2023. A charge of carrying a concealed weapon was withdrawn on March 12.
PROBATION FOR THEFTS, FINED FOR IMPAIRED DRIVING
Kerry Lee Sampson, 38, of Canning, has been sentenced to probation for stealing property of a value not exceeding $5,000 from Loblaws and for stealing fuel from Sobeys Fast Fuel. He has also been fined for having a blood alcohol concentration that was equal to or exceeded the legal limit within two hours of ceasing to operate a conveyance.
Sampson changed his plea to guilty on the charge of stealing from Loblaws and pleaded guilty to the other two charges on March 12. Judge Claudine MacDonald sentenced Sampson to 15 months of probation on the two theft charges. Sampson was fined $1,000 on the impaired driving charge. The court imposed a one-year driving prohibition against him.
Sampson committed the offences in New Minas on Aug. 22, 2022, and May 18, 2023; and in Kentville on Oct. 14, 2023. The legal blood alcohol limit is 80 mg of alcohol in 100 ml of blood. Sampson gave blood alcohol readings of 100 and 90.
A charge of operating a conveyance while his ability to do so was impaired to any degree by alcohol or a drug or both was withdrawn on March 12.
FINED FOR IMPAIRED DRIVING
Ryan Wayne Decker, 42, of Hantsport, has been fined for having a blood alcohol concentration that was equal to or exceeded the legal limit within two hours after ceasing to operate a conveyance.
Decker pleaded guilty to the charge on March 12. Judge Claudine MacDonald fined Decker $2,000 and imposed a one-year driving prohibition against him.
Decker committed the offence in Hantsport on Jan. 21, 2024. The legal blood alcohol limit is 80 mg of alcohol in
100 ml of blood. Decker gave blood alcohol readings of 190 and 180.
A charge of operating a conveyance while his ability to do so was impaired to any degree by alcohol or a drug or both was withdrawn on March 12.
IMPAIRED DRIVING LEADS TO FINE
Michael Allen Burbidge, 41, of Lockhartville, has been fined for operating a conveyance while his ability to do so was impaired to any degree by alcohol or a drug or both.
Burbidge pleaded guilty to the charge on March 12. Judge Claudine MacDonald fined Burbidge $2,000 and imposed a 15-month driving prohibition against him.
Burbidge committed the offence in Wolfville Ridge on Jan. 21. The legal blood alcohol limit is 80 mg of alcohol in 100 ml of blood. Burbidge gave blood alcohol readings of 210 and 190.
A charge of having a blood alcohol concentration that was equal to or exceeded the legal limit within two hours after ceasing to operate a conveyance was withdrawn on March 12.
FINED FOR DRUG IMPAIRED DRIVING
Dontae Austin O’Neill Mayers, 23, of North Kentville, has been fined for having a blood drug concentration that was equal to or exceeded the prohibited blood drug concentration for THC within two hours of ceasing to operate a conveyance.
Mayers pleaded guilty to the charge on March 13. Judge Claudine MacDonald fined Mayers $1,500 and imposed a one-year driving prohibition against him.
Mayers committed the offence in Kentville on May 18, 2023. The legal blood THC limit is 2 nanograms per 1 ml of blood. Mayers gave a blood drug reading of 20 nanograms of THC in 1 ml of blood.
FINED FOR IMPAIRED DRIVING
Lisa Graves, 59, address unknown, has been fined for having a blood alcohol concentration that was equal to or exceeded the legal limit within two hours of ceasing to operate a conveyance.
Graves pleaded guilty to the charge on March 13. Judge Claudine MacDonald fined Graves $1,000 and imposed a one-year driving prohibition against her.
Graves committed the offence in Welsford on Dec. 3, 2023. The legal blood alcohol limit is 80 mg of alcohol in 100 ml of blood. Graves gave blood alcohol readings of 120 and 110.
A charge of operating a conveyance while her ability to do so was impaired by alcohol was withdrawn on March 13.
CONDITIONAL DISCHARGE FOR ASSAULT
Fallon Paige Gillies, 25, of Vaughan, has been handed a conditional discharge with probation for committing an assault.
Gillies pleaded guilty to the charge on March 19. Judge Angela Caseley handed Gillies a conditional discharge with nine months of probation.
Gillies committed the offence in Vaughan on Aug. 11, 2023.