ESTEVAN — A southeast Saskatchewan man who spent eight weeks in custody was sentenced to time served during his latest appearance in Estevan Provincial Court on Aug. 18.
Dusty Bonnor pleaded guilty to uttering threats, stemming from an incident June 16 in Alida. Charges stayed included two counts of violating the terms of his probation order and one for theft under $5,000.
He also pleaded guilty to one count each of theft of a motor vehicle, violating the terms of his probation order, and obtaining food, beverage or accommodations by fraud. A charge of possession of property obtained by crime less than $5,000 was stayed. Those charges stemmed from June 23 in Estevan.
Bonnor was also given a one-year probation order with numerous conditions.
Crown prosecutor Travis Avery pointed out that Bonnor was sentenced to 14 days in custody on June 2 for a theft. Then on June 16, Avery said Bonnor entered the post office in Alida to get his sister’s mail. The request was denied.
“He started shouting and screaming,” said Avery, adding that Bonnor later uttered death threats to the staff.
Bonnor was granted bail on June 23. Later in the day, Avery said police received a report that a vehicle had been taken from outside a residence in Estevan. There was a camera in the area that shows a male, wearing what Avery called a distinctive jacket and pants, approaching the vehicle. The person in the video was identified as Bonnor.
The truck was located near Alida, and inside the truck, Avery said clothing observed in the video was located. Avery said there wasn’t any damage to the vehicle; it just ran out of fuel. According to Avery, Bonnor also had personal belongings in the vehicle.
As for the theft of the lodging, Avery noted it’s unclear how Bonnor came into possession of a key card for a local hotel, but Avery said it is clear Bonnor spent a night in a hotel room without paying for it.
Bonnor spent 56 days in custody for the charges from June 16 and 23, and with advanced remand credit, it works out to 84 days.
Bonnor’s attorney Joelle Graham noted Bonnor has had a lot of challenges due to his heritage, and his family has also suffered a lot of difficulties. The family had been residing in Alida, and she said the community has been “less than welcoming”.
“I’m sure some of that tension is what caused his outburst at the post office at the time that it did,” said Graham.
She said Estevan has no services like a homeless shelter for people in dire circumstances. Bonnor couldn’t find a ride from Estevan to Alida and his family doesn’t have reliable cellular phones, which she said contributed to the situation.
“He was just trying to get home,” said Graham.
She believes Bonnor does deserve some time in custody on the matter and this was an appropriate sentence.
When given the chance to speak, Bonnor didn’t add anything.
Judge Mitch Miller warned Bonnor that more convictions would result in even greater jail time.
“You racked up, since 2023, a substantial number of property-related offences, and as noted by Crown and defence, you had to serve more jail because you got more convictions, and that will only go up if those property offences continue,” said Miller.
After the Aug. 18 guilty pleas, Bonnor was released to enter a treatment facility. He still has matters before the court, including a sexual assault charge and two counts of violating his probation order. Those matters are scheduled to go to trial Dec. 16 in Weyburn.
