Estevan man Justin Garrow will continue to serve time in jail as he was sentenced to another 36 days in custody.
Garrow appeared via closed-circuit television during proceedings in Estevan provincial court on Monday. He has been on remand since his arrest in November 2013, and pleaded guilty to a charge of common assault and mischief. He had previously been charged with assault causing bodily harm, but due to the circumstances of the offence, the Crown prosecutor said the original charge was heavy-handed. They proceeded by indictment on the less serious charge.
Garrow, who presiding Judge Lane Wiegers noted has a growing criminal record, had been arrested on Nov. 16, 2013 after he attended his girlfriend's residence and after some arguments punched another woman in the face. He then found a paint can and smashed the windshield of the woman's car. Alcohol was a factor in the incident according to the Crown, which they noted his criminal record, involving assaults and mischief charges, are a particularly aggravating factor in this case.
The defence and Crown were asking for a three-month jail sentence, which would have started on March 10 and would mean Garrow had 36 more days to serve but Wiegers wanted to make sure they weren't suggesting a 36-day sentence.
The judge said the sentence needed to be clear about how much credit Garrow was receiving for his 115 days on remand, and determined 1.5 days for each day on remand would be appropriate if they were looking for a June 10 release date.
Along with his continuing time in jail, Garrow will be subject to a 12-month probation period following release and must provide a DNA sample. He is also subject to a 10-year firearms prohibition and a lifetime ban of possessing prohibited weapons, which accompanies the indictable procedure by the Crown.
In other proceedings, Kory Sheets pleaded guilty to possessing marijuana and was granted an absolute discharge. He was represented by counsel but not present at the courthouse.
The Estevan RCMP pulled over the former Saskatchewan Roughrider on Highway 18 in Bienfait after they found him to be speeding. Upon approaching his vehicle the arresting constable noted an odour of marijuana.
Asking Sheets about it, he produced two joints and another small canister, all of which amounted to about 6.4 grams of marijuana.
The constable noted Sheets also showed signs of drug impairment and a field sobriety test led to a 24-hour suspension of his licence, though Sheets's lawyer noted there were no allegations or charges suggesting impairment.
Sheets was leaving Carnduff on his way to Regina, as he had finished a job in the small Prairie town and was heading back to the United States where he plans on working in the future.
He was released after his arrest on a $500 cash-bail recognizance, as he is a U.S. citizen, and has made a $300 charitable donation to Students Against Drunk Driving as part of the discharge arrangement.
