A man plead guilty to mischief after being found camping in a stolen van while visiting his mother at the Centennial Centre for Mental Health and Brain Injury.
William Redwood accepted the mischief charge via CCTV Friday, Oct. 2 while at the Edmonton Remand Centre. Crown prosecutor Steve Degen told the court that Redwood was found on July 28 by police after reports of a man sleeping in a van at the hospital parking lot.
An inquiry found that the van was reported stolen from Calgary and Degen provided judge J. Holmes with a record showing several previous offenses related to theft.
As Redwood had already served 66 days at the remand centre, his defense counsel requested a punishment of 90 days. The request was to give Redwood time and a half credit for time served, allowing for his release.
The judge approved the request and ordered a victim fine surcharge with some time to pay. Redwood faces trial on other charges related to the matter in November.
Man requested to clear no contact order
A man who was ordered to have no contact with his partner has to find ways to clear up the order as his common law partner wants to continue to see him.
Preston Saddleback was charged by police with breaching conditions on Sept. 22 in the early morning hours after receiving a call of concern he was suicidal. He was on probation not to have contact with his partner over previous issues, yet she was the one who wanted to see him, explained defense counsel David Paull .
“He was there to see his kids at the behest of her,” said Paull. “I don’t think she knows she can sign a waiver.”
Paull said in Saddleback’s case, because of the no contact order, it was unclear how they could solve the issue. He added the woman called police out of concern for Saddleback’s personal well being.
Judge Homes said that as there is a no contact order in place, Saddleback needs to find the proper steps to remove it or he could face jail time if found near the woman again. He also received a $250 fine plus a $100 victim fine surcharge.
Mother-to-be clearing up addiction issues
A young mother-to-be who head-butted her own mother during an argument is on the path to healing.
Chantelle Weum told the court that when she was arrested on Aug. 9 for assaulting her mother, she was recovering from addictions to crystal meth.
She moved from another community to Ponoka to deal with the addiction after finding out she was pregnant. Paull added that she is winning the battle of addiction and is moving forward with her life.
“Part of coming down from these drugs is there’s certain behavioral actions due to stimulus,” he said.
Degen suggested that probation and community service would be in order considering she is overcoming the battle of addiction. Holmes said Weum deserves credit for the steps she has taken.
“I hope you understand that if you do them (drugs) your life is likely to spiral down,” stated Holmes.
He ordered six months of probation and 25 hours of community service to be completed in three months.