H.P. court docket
Dec. 2, 2024
Justice S.P. Hinkley
(High Prairie) – A Sucker Creek man has been banned from possessing or using firearms and weapons for life after he was found in possession of brass knuckles.
Aaron Russell Willier, 44, was handed a global sentence of 105 days in jail after pleading guilty to knowingly possessing prohibited or restricted firearms, possessing prohibited firearms and for failing to comply with release conditions.
The pleas were entered in High Prairie Court of Justice Dec. 2.
Willier was given credit for 18 days already served in custody.
In reaching his decision, Justice S.P. Hinkley said Willier was banned from using or possessing firearms and weapons for life since it was his third such weapons conviction on his criminal record.
Brass knuckles are prohibited, the justice noted.
“They can do devastating damage,” he added.
Charges arose when Willier was stopped by High Prairie RCMP after he was speeding in a school zone, Crown prosecutor Nuha Abunada told court.
Willier was also wanted on an outstanding warrant at the time. His release conditions required him to keep the peace and be of good behaviour.
Problems further arose when police found the brass knuckles in his back pocket, said Willier’s lawyer, Derek Renzini.
“The brass knuckles were given to him,” Renzini said.
“He voluntarily gave them up to police and he says it was stupid having them.”
Blake Francis Giroux, 32, of Driftpile, was handed a global sentence of 40 days after pleading guilty to resisting a peace officer and breach of probation.
He was given credit for time served and released.
Court heard Giroux was walking near the Driftpile gym when he was stopped by a Lakeshore Regional Police Service officer, Crown prosecutor Nuha Abunada said. He started to walk away, then ran.
Giroux breached his probation when he failed to report to his probation officer.
Justice S.P. Hinkley credited Giroux for eventually stopping for police.
“You did make a good decision to stop running,” he said.
Giroux admitted that it was a bad choice to start running away from police, said his lawyer, Melissa Erickson.
“He told me it was a bad decision to run,” Erickson said.
He was looking for his dog at the time and then realized he better stop running from the police, she added.
Tony Allan Roberts, of the Slave Lake area, was sentenced to 15 days in jail after pleading guilty to housebreaking with intent.
Roberts was given credit for six days served.
The charge arose after Roberts and a female entered a residential trailer in Slave Lake on Nov. 29, Crown prosecutor Nuha Abunada told court.
Justice S.P. Hinkley noted the temperature was about – 25 C after Roberts explained the situation.
He noted Roberts thought it was an abandoned trailer and it was cold outside and they wanted a warm place to stay.
“You’re in a bedroom of a residence without permission,” Justice Hinkley told him.
The homeless shelter in Slave Lake was closed earlier in the year.
During sentencing, Justice Hinkley credited Roberts for his explanation.
“You’re taking responsibility for what you did.”
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Shelley Gwen Ferguson, 52, of Grande Prairie, was sentenced to 21 days in jail after pleading guilty to assaulting a peace officer.
“She was yelling and screaming and threw a cup of hot chocolate at a peace officer,” Crown prosecutor Nuha Abunada told court.
The incident occurred Nov. 17.
Ferguson was given credit for time served and released.
Justice S.P Hinkley noted Ferguson has health problems.
“She is dealing with mental health issues and addictions,” he said.
“You can’t be throwing hot chocolate at people,” he added.
Ferguson’s lawyer, Derek Renzini, told court Ferguson does not have a permanent home.
“She has been struggling with finding housing in Grande Prairie,” he added.
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Mathayio Grey, 22, of Atikameg, was fined $400 after pleading guilty to failing to appear in court.
Justice S.P Hinkley deemed the fine paid by his time already served in prison.
The charge arose after Grey failed to appear in court during docket day.