What his own lawyer called a “toxic relationship” will cost an Edmonton man nine months in jail, after he pleaded to a host of charges.
Richard Durocher, 41, pleaded guilty to various offences that included assault, uttering threats, being unlawfully in a dwelling house and repeatedly breaching bail conditions.
The charges date back to August 2008. He was already out on bail with a condition not to contact his ex-girlfriend, but in a grossly intoxicated state he threatened to hurt her.
Police were called on a number of occasions to the woman’s home in the Grandin neighbourhood when Durocher had entered the house in a drunken state and twice pushed the woman, despite a non-contact order.
The proposal for the nine-month sentence came as a joint submission from the crown and defence, which also included two years of probation, following the jail term.
Judge Peter Ayotte questioned why, after Durocher had so frequently breached court orders, should he be granted more probation.
Durocher’s lawyer Kim Hardstaff, in addition to noting the relationship was very clearly over, said her client had made some significant changes that should help keep him on the straight and narrow.
She said health concerns had caused him to finally cut back on his drinking.
“The hope is after he serves his time the probation can help.”
Ayotte agreed to the sentence and as part of the probation, Durocher will have to abstain completely from alcohol, take any counselling he is directed to and have no contact with the woman.
After each of the various incidents, Durocher spent some time in jail before he could raise bail and Ayotte granted him the 64 days as time served, but declined Hardstaff’s suggestion that he be granted the time with a two-for-one credit because the time had been served before the law prohibited such credit.
A St. Albert man who put his fist through the window of a local business will pay for it with more than just a sore hand.
Jeremy Richard Walsh, 21, pleaded guilty to a single count of mischief and was handed a $500 fine and ordered to pay $682.50 in restitution for the broken window.
Police were called to the business, The Fire Shoppe on June 26, 2010 after Walsh punched and broke a store window while intoxicated.
Walsh also had a bleeding hand from the incident.
Walsh was put on three months of probation to give him time to pay the restitution ordered in the case. Walsh is now an apprentice welder and has had no further trouble with the law.
Judge Peter Ayotte ordered he pay the restitution on a monthly schedule, with a $230 payment due each month. If he fails to meet those targets he would be in breach of his probation.
