A man who pled guilty to impaired driving in Ponoka provincial court on Friday, April 24 was sentenced to a $1,690 fine and a one-year driving prohibition.
On Feb. 8 of this year, Ponoka RCMP pulled over a vehicle being driven by Richard Goertzen, 54, near the Ponoka Stampede Grounds.
The vehicle was pulled over for driving with one headlight and upon approaching the driver, the RCMP member could smell alcohol on Goertzen’s breath and in the vehicle.
He was detained for the purpose of an investigation and failed a roadside test.
Goertzen was arrested and taken to the Ponoka detachment where he provided two breath samples at .16 and .15.
The court was told Goertzen and his wife were at an event at the stampede grounds and when it was time to leave, she was not sure how to get back to Highway 2; he was going to drive just until they got there.
“It was a bit of a heated discussion when we got out to the vehicle that evening and my wife said she wasn’t comfortable,” Goertzen told the court.
“I gave in like an idiot. It was a horrible decision,” he added.
Judge J. Mitchell told Goertzen that he might be eligible to apply for an alcohol ignition interlock device after four months.
Man sentenced for thieving, trying to pay student loans
A 22-year-old man was sentenced to $1,300 fine after pleading guilty to breaking and entering into a Ponoka business.
On Feb. 28, 2015, Paul St. Gelais jumped over a barbed wire fence at Ponoka Towing and put two diesel catalytic converters into the back of his truck.
When the RCMP arrived, St. Gelias attempted to hide in the cab of his truck. The shoes he was wearing matched the prints found in the snow.
He has no previous criminal record and the court was informed St. Gelais told the RCMP he committed the crime because he needed to pay more than $20,000 in student loans.
In the future St. Gelais can apply for a pardon to have the record released.
Man considered nuisance by RCMP gets seven days in custody
A man who served seven days in pre-sentencing custody for causing a disturbance, had those days credited for his sentence and was considered having served his time for the misdemeanor.
On April 18, 2015 Ponoka RCMP were called in to a complaint of an intoxicated man knocking on residence doors near The Bargain Shop, and a female passed out under a tree.
Upon receiving a description on the man, RCMP knew they were dealing with Kelly Applegarth, 51, of the Samson Cree Nation.
RCMP had also received complaints earlier that day of the two individuals for public intoxication and urinating in public.
Applegarth was arrested on the spot.
Judge Mitchell told Applegarth that he would abstain from adding probation to his sentence because RCMP know who his is, but advised him to stay away from Ponoka. “I don’t think the people of Ponoka appreciate you coming around,” the judge said.
“So if you don’t want to get dealt with by the RCMP, stay out of Ponoka,” he added.