Guilty pleas have been entered in connection to the incident Sept. 16 in which a vehicle containing a child was stolen from a North Battleford strip mall.
Johnathan Gunville has entered guilty pleas to 11 counts in North Battleford Provincial Court. Four are connected to the Sept. 16 incident, the most serious being unlawful abandonment of a child under the age of 10.
He also entered guilty pleas to stealing a motor vehicle, operating a motor vehicle in a manner dangerous to the public, and operating a motor vehicle while disqualified, in connection to the Sept. 16 incident. Two other counts from Sept. 16 are to be spoken to and likely withdrawn or stayed at the conclusion of sentencing. Those are the charges of abduction of a person under the age of 14, as well as unlawful confinement.
Gunville has also pled guilty to breach of curfew stemming from Sept. 19. A second curfew breach charge from that date is to be withdrawn. Gunville also has entered guilty pleas to six counts from Sept. 20 — operating a motor vehicle in a manner dangerous to the public, possession of stolen property exceeding $5,000, flight from police, operating a motor vehicle while disqualified, breach of probation order not to possess or consume alcohol and breach of a probation order to not be in the driver’s seat of a vehicle. The other five charges — operating a vehicle while disqualified and four breach counts — are to be spoken to and likely withdrawn.
Gunville made his latest appearance in provincial court before Judge Dan O'Hanlon in North Battleford Provincial Court by closed circuit TV from Saskatoon.
Sentencing is scheduled for Jan. 9 in North Battleford Provincial Court. The indication is that it will be a full sentencing hearing and that witnesses will be called to testify. A pre-sentence report is also being ordered.
Prior to sentencing, a pre-sentencing case management meeting has been set for Nov. 19 at 1:30 p.m. Gunville will not need to be present for that.
Gunville remains in custody until sentencing.
