A former St. Albert resident has been handed a nine-month suspended sentence for giving an unwelcome hug.
Pradhuman Kumar Mohan, 41, was charged with assault, but pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of assault simpliciter in St. Albert Provincial Court Monday.
Crown prosecutor Karen Thorsrud told the court on the afternoon of May 7, 2011, Mohan, who was working as manager of Sheffield & Sons – Tobacconists Inc., in St. Albert Centre, followed a female worker at the mall into the recycling room, where he hugged her.
“He hugged her and she said ‘no.’ She didn’t want it,” Thorsrud said.
The female noticed him following her and ducked into the female washroom in attempts to evade him, but he waited for her before making his move.
Mohan declined to comment when given the opportunity.
Defence lawyer Graham Johnson said Mohan has been in Canada since 2006 and was originally from Fiji. He no longer works at the St. Albert store.
Mohan was handed a nine-month suspended sentence with the conditions to keep the peace and be of good behaviour, undergo treatment or counselling as directed by a probation officer in relation to appropriate interpersonal behaviour and have no contact with the complainant. He was also ordered to pay the $50 victim surcharge fee.
Justin Vollrath, 24, pleaded guilty to public mischief after making a false claim to St. Albert RCMP, netting a six-month conditional sentence.
Thorsrud said Vollrath had a dispute with a female, but called police in September 2011 saying his brother and he were attacked and were bleeding “from all over.” This was rated “high priority” and three police cruisers were dispatched.
“His actions caused a much more significant response than required,” said defence lawyer Sarah Terry, adding alcohol was involved in the incident.
Vollrath has no prior record and conditions for his sentencing include attending treatment or counselling as directed by probation as well as having no contact with the female involved. He was also ordered to pay the $50 victim fine surcharge.
Thorsrud withdrew charges for assault and possession of a controlled substance.
Rhonda Jean Krist was fined $100 after pleading guilty to possession of methamphetamine.
Crown prosecutor John Donahoe told the court Krist was the passenger in a stolen vehicle that was pulled over on Oct. 27, 2011. RCMP found two small 0.1-g bags of methamphetamine hidden in her bra and upon further searching, found several bags with drug residue in her purse, along with a straw and hypodermic needle.
“That’s a bad drug,” said Judge John Mahar. “If you’ve got to do drugs, find something less damaging.”
She has no related record and Donahoe withdrew charges for possession of a controlled substance as well as possession of property obtained by crime.
Edmonton resident Carlos Magno Riveros, 28, was fined $1,500 and given a one-year driving prohibition after he pleaded guilty to having a blood alcohol level exceeding the legal limit.
On Oct. 2, 2010 at 12:15 p.m., Riveros almost collided with a police cruiser in a parking lot, prompting police to pull him over.
He showed signs of impairment and had a blood-alcohol level of 0.190.
“I’m sorry for my actions,” he said.
Donahoe withdrew related charges for impaired operation of a motor vehicle as well as failure to attend court.
