At the regular March 7 sitting of Estevan provincial court, Corey Johnson, 23, was given a suspended sentence and placed on a year-long probation period for an assault and breach of conditions, stemming from a sentencing on a previous charge.
The court heard that on May 13, 2015, Johnson showed up at the residence of a family friend around 2 a.m. and got into an argument with the victim. After an escalation in the argument, Johnson pushed the victim, causing her to fall into a door.
Johnson also committed a breach of conditions from a prior sentence on a charge of dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, by consuming alcohol on Dec. 31, 2015.
The Crown said that Johnson and a friend were found trying to gain access to a residence, carrying a hockey stick, and that Johnson was intoxicated at the time.
Senior Crown prosecutor Mitchell Miller said that after the incident, the Crown made several failed attempts to contact the victim to see if a non-contact order should put in place against Johnson. Miller added that in such circumstances the default position of the Crown was to recommend a non-contact order. Johnson and the victim have three children, and the May 13 incident took place after a breakup between them.
Miller said the Crown’s recommendation was a probation order of 12 months, with addictions and domestic violence counselling. Miller noted the assault was the first violent offence for which Johnson was charged.
Johnson’s lawyer, in a phone call with the court, said Johnson has had the support of his parents throughout the entire process, and was not able to see his children since the incident.
“Corey is genuinely sorry for what happened. He understands it was through his poor choices,” said Johnson’s lawyer.
The lawyer noted that Johnson has sought counselling on his own initiative. The court heard that Johnson was employed until about six months ago as a pipeline worker.
Johnson’s lawyer said the offence, as far as domestic incidents are concerned, was relatively mild and that he doesn’t have a violent history.
“He is a father, a son and he can turn his life around and learn different ways to handle emotions,” Johnson’s lawyer said. “He is prepared to handle responsibility for his actions, and truly understands the gravity of the offence.”
Judge Lane Wiegers acknowledged Johnson’s early guilty plea and action in seeking out counselling as mitigating factors, but said that Johnson’s criminal record, with one count of dangerous operation of a motor vehicle and one of assault, represented aggravating factors.
The probation order Wiegers imposed was concurrent for the assault and the breach of conditions Johnson committed. Johnson was ordered, through his probation, to undergo any assessment or counselling his probation officer would recommend, and was given six months to pay a victim fine surcharge of $200.
Denis Hein appeared in court, represented by his lawyer who contacted the court by phone. Hein’s lawyer requested a month’s adjournment to go over disclosure relating to charges against Hein.
Hein is charged with possession of marijuana for the purpose of trafficking, trafficking marijuana, possession of cannabis resin for the purpose of trafficking, trafficking cannabis resin, production of cannabis resin, assault with a weapon contrary and possession of a weapon dangerous to the public. The matter was adjourned until April 4.
An agent speaking on behalf of Karry Biette’s lawyer, Aaron Fox, contacted the court and requested an adjournment of the case until April 11. The agent indicated that Fox was still waiting on disclosure, and was in discussions with Biette.
Wiegers consented to the adjournment of the matter until April 11, for further disclosure and resolution.
Biette faces charges of impaired driving causing death, impaired driving causing bodily harm, dangerous operation causing death, dangerous operation causing bodily harm and criminal negligence causing death, after an Oct. 14 accident when a vehicle heading into Estevan struck a tree resulting in the death of one passenger and the hospitalization of another.
