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Go to jail or pay substantial fine: Judge

Jail should be used sparingly says judge
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“You can go to jail or pay a substantial fine,” Judge W. A. Skinner told a man appearing in Stettler provincial court.

Daniel Jay Lutz appeared in court April 12 charged with assault causing bodily harm and two counts of breach of probation from a bar brawl incident in Stettler around 3 a.m. on March 11.

“I pick the fine,” said Lutz.

Crown prosecutor Blair Brandon told the court that Lutz got into an altercation with a man at a local bar and it escalated into Lutz punching the man, who needed stitches on his face. When police arrived at the scene Lutz wasn’t present and the man who was punched was on the ground, but conscious. Brandon said Lutz was arrested a few hours later.

Lutz, however, told the court, “I turned myself in at 4:26 a.m.”

Lutz also told the court that he was trying to leave the bar when a man’s girlfriend said something he didn’t agree with.

“I thought for some reason that it was a good idea to punch him (the boyfriend of the girl). It wasn’t a good idea.”

Judge Skinner acknowledged that the incident occurred “in a bar situation” and fined Lutz $2,200. He was also given 12 months probation and ordered to provide a DNA sample.

“You’re a relatively young man and jail should be used sparingly,” said Judge Skinner.