Morinville beating

A former Morinville resident convinced a judge he had turned his life around and avoided further jail time after pleading guilty to assault.

Andrew Soper pleaded guilty to a single count of assault and was handed the time he’d already served – nearly two months in jail.

Soper along with several other men attacked another man at a party in Morinville on Sept. 12, 2010. The fight apparently started over alcohol and drugs the group believed the victim had stolen. Soper was initially held without bail, but was eventually released.

The group attacked the other man and he left the party missing several pieces of clothing. After he called 911, police found him several blocks away, partially clothed. They eventually arrested Soper and several others.

Crown prosecutor John Donahoe told the court that attempts to take the case to trial had been troublesome as several witnesses did not attend.

Soper has moved away from the Morinville area since these incidents and he told the court he was turning away from all of his previous troubles.

Fraudulent cheque

A woman’s failed attempt to cash a nearly $4,000 fraudulent cheque cost her a $300 fine.

Rosanne Alice White pleaded guilty to a single count of using a forged document before being handed the fine.

A manager at the Cash Store called police on April 30, 2012 after White tried to cash the cheque, which was written out to her for just under $4,000.

White had made previous attempts to cash the cheque at other cheque cashing and banking outlets in town. She had told the tellers the cheque was for a medical emergency or that it was an insurance payment.

When officers confronted her, she told them it was for working as a mystery shopper. Officers contacted the pharmacy in Ontario whose name was on the cheque and confirmed it did not pay mystery shoppers.

The pharmacy’s address was also incorrect on the cheque.

Judge Leo Burgess expressed some concern at the fine the Crown and defence suggested, especially given the amount of the cheque, but relented because it had not been cashed.

He also cited that White had no criminal record.

Casino trouble

An Edmonton man racked up a $300 fine and a probation order to keep him away from Apex Casino, after pleading guilty to causing a disturbance.

Police were called on May 19, after security staff tried to remove Sukhnivder Sandhu from the casino. Heavily intoxicated, he was disruptive and refused to leave the casino and was angry with staff for refusing to serve him more alcohol.

Sandhu refused to leave after having been asked by serving and security staff so the casino employees called the RCMP.

Officers escorted him out of the building and placed him in a police cruiser, but offered him an opportunity to go home in a taxi and avoid criminal charges. When he refused to accept their suggestion he was charged with causing a disturbance.

During the nine months he is on probation, Sandhu will have to report to probation, take any counselling they suggest and stay away from the casino.

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