Breaking news

A young journalism student got some first-hand experience in the workings of the criminal justice system Monday as he pleaded guilty for beating up two people at a local bar.

Mark Anderson MacLean pleaded guilty to two counts of assault stemming from an Oct. 3 early-morning, alcohol-fuelled punch-up at LB’s Pub in St. Albert.

The court heard that MacLean was very drunk when he went outside LB’s around 2:30 a.m. for a cigarette while still holding a beer. When a bartender saw MacLean, he admonished him for taking his beer outside. MacLean dropped his beer on the ground and was admonished again for making a mess. He became agitated and threw punches at the bartender. A woman who tried to break up the fight also got kicked in the face.

MacLean, a Grant MacEwan journalism student, was taking medication that reacted poorly with alcohol, according to facts submitted to the court.

MacLean received a conditional discharge provided he pays approximately $1,700 in restitution and successfully completes a period of probation.

Poor judgment

It was a wave of strong emotion over not being able to see his children that led a man with drinking and drug problems to violate an emergency protection order, St. Albert Provincial Court heard Monday.

Timothy James Dianocky pleaded guilty to two counts of breaching a protection order and one count of failing to comply with conditions of probation.

A woman with whom Dianocky was once involved and has children with sought a protection order in February, under which he was to have no contact with the woman or his children. When served with the order, Dianocky was in the Edmonton Remand Centre on charges of motor vehicle theft, weapons possession and possessing break-in tools.

On March 7, two days after being released from custody, Dianocky contacted the woman twice – first through a Facebook message then once via telephone, both times asking to see his kids. He was arrested again that same day.

Dianocky repeatedly pleaded with the judge for leniency, explaining he had terminal brain cancer and was working with a naturopath. He also wanted to see his children.

“My ex here is just trying to drill me,” Dianocky said.

Dianocky will serve another 55 days in prison, but only on weekends.

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