A Ponoka man will remain behind bars for close to two more months after pleading guilty to several offences fueled by a drug addiction.
Calvin Fertash, 43, was sentenced to serve just short of six months in jail in Ponoka Provincial Court on Dec. 6, following approval of a joint submission by Judge W.A. Andreassen.
Originally facing 21 charges, Fertash entered guilty pleas to nine counts involving five separate incidents that spanned from May to September of this year.
He was handed a 30-day sentence for the theft of a pick up truck on May 22 from Wetaskiwin, followed by a 30 day consecutive sentence for trafficking in stolen property after pawning a generator and tools that has been taken from a rural property break-in between May 28 and June 11.
Another 30 days consecutive was given for mischief after Fertash broke a door and a window at the home on June 13, with a 15-day concurrent sentence for uttering threats during the incident.
He was given another 30 day consecutive sentence for mischief after going to a home in Ponoka on Sept. 5, then kicking in a door and breaking a window.
A 45 day consecutive jail term was handed out for mischief, along with concurrent 30 day and 15 day terms for breaching conditions and uttering threats, after Fertash attended a home on Sept. 19 where he was a subject of a no contact order.
After attempting to get into the home, he tossed a large piece of wood through the front window and then threatened to come back and burn it down.
Fertash was also given a seven day consecutive sentence for failing to appear in court in August.
In total, Fertash was sentenced to 172 days in jail and then given credit for 119 days after spending the previous two months since his arrest in remand.
In addition, Judge Andreassen ordered a 12 month probation that includes no contact with several individuals, taking any treatment or counselling as directed, abstaining from drugs and alcohol and not beung in a vehicle without the registered owner.
“This is a modest penalty given the record you have and it sounds like your life has spiralled out of control because of the meth use and compounded in the last year,” stated the judge while delivering the sentence.
Fertash said when given the chance to speak after the sentence, “I have made mistakes and I hope this can help me turn around.” He is also hoping to attend a treatment program for his drug addiction once he is released.