A 22-year-old man will be spending the next two weeks in jail considering his actions after he was sentenced by Judge J.B. Mitchell at the Stettler Provincial Court.
Jeremy Shippy appeared before Judge Mitchell on April 10 on charges of driving a motor vehicle while suspended, driving a motor vehicle without insurance, and failure to stop for peace officer. A fourth charge of failure to stop at a railway crossing was withdrawn by the Crown.
The court heard that on Jan. 25, 2014, police observed the driver of a vehicle, later identified as Shippy, rev the engine of the vehicle, making a loud muffler noise. Police followed the vehicle, signalling Shippy to pull over through the use of overhead lights, and the vehicle sped off, going through a stop sign at a railway crossing.
Eventually the vehicle arrived in a dead end and the occupants of the vehicle fled on foot, but left behind identifying material, including cell phones. The passengers of the vehicle were located and Shippy turned himself in three days later.
When asked by Mitchell, Shippy confirmed the recounting by the Crown was accurate, and pleaded guilty.
Shippy told the Judge he was employed by his parents in construction and currently lives in Lacombe at his own residence.
The Judge was not impressed by Shippy’s previous encounter with the law, which saw the young man lose his licence after he was caught driving while intoxicated by police in 2013.
“By taking off like this, you put yourself and your passengers and others in considerable danger,” Mitchell told Shippy. “It’s goofs like you who kill people.”
When considering Shippy’s sentence, the Judge dismissed the idea of simply levelling fines.
“The Crown says I can impose fines, but I don’t trust you to pay them,” Mitchell said. “You ran from the police.”
In the end, Mitchell sentenced Shippy to 14 days in jail each for driving while suspended and for running from the police, to run concurrently.
“I’m not impressed by your driving and I’m not impressed that you have a criminal code conviction for impaired driving,” Mitchell said. “The gig is up. I’m seeing too much of this type of driving in the community.”
In addition to the 14 days in jail, Shippy will have to pay a fine of $2,500 for driving while suspended and fleeing police, as well as the roughly $3,000 fine for driving without insurance, all due at the end of August 2014.
Also appearing in court was Taryn Boutin, 18, charged with sexual assault and sexual contact with a minor. A publication ban was imposed on any information or evidence that would identify the victim.
The court heard that on March 9, 2014, Boutin allegedly assaulted the victim in the community of Alix. Judge Mitchell strongly advised Boutin, who only turned 18 in January, to seek legal advice, and will see Boutin or his legal representative in court on May 8.
Trial dates were also set for Douglas Slemp, who faces several charges stemming from six different incidents. The charges include break and enter, assault, unlawful confinement, uttering threats, possession of stolen goods, taking a motor vehicle without permission of the owner, driving while suspended, driving without insurance, and several charges of failing to comply with probationary terms.
Slemp appeared via CCTV from the Red Deer detention centre, where he’s been held since violating his probation.
Slemp was granted bail of $500, with conditions that require him to reside with his mother and stepfather or a location near his area of employment if approved by the probation officer, have no interaction directly or indirectly with the victim, remain away from the victim’s residence, not purchase, obtain or consume alcohol or drugs, cannot attend a location where the primary purpose is the sale of alcohol or gambling, and to have no weapons.
The first two trial dates are in July, with a third to follow in August.