Carl Friberg was in Alberta Provincial Court on Thursday, April 9, where he pleaded guilty to having the care and control of horses and miniature horses.
Police responded to a complaint from the Society of Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA), as Friberg was under a lifetime ban from having the care and control of any animals or livestock except a single dog.
Defense Council Dan Wilson stepped up to assist Friberg, as he appeared to be having trouble understanding the court process, though he did so as a friend of the court, not as Friberg's counsel.
The Court heard that Friberg had several horses and miniature horses on his property and while they didn't belong to him, he was responsible for caring for them in a lodging-style occupation.
Given Friberg's low income, age and pensioner status, but also considering a 1995 conviction for pointing a firearm, Judge Glass sentenced Friberg to a $100 fine, plus the $30 victim surcharge.
Crown prosecutor Wayne Silliker took a moment to reiterate to Friberg that the ban is still ongoing, and it is a lifetime ban.
Jusaf Izairi changed his plea from not guilty to guilty in an Aug. 17, 2014 incident near Stettler Pizza.
The Crown advised the court that Izairi, under the influence of alcohol, struck the complainant and continued to strike him when the victim fell to the ground. The victim suffered a “large welt” and other body bruises.
The court also heard that in August of 2010, Izairi had served two months for a charge of assault.
The 36-year-old, who hails originally from Albania, has a steady job and in both incidents, alcohol was a factor.
Izairi was sentenced to 60 days, time served, since he'd been in custody since September 2014, but noted that he wouldn't be able to leave jail yet as he's being held on other matters.
Judge Glass also ordered Izairi to supply the courts with a DNA sample for the database.
Patrick McGhie also appeared before the courts, where he pleaded guilty to three of five charges against him. The Court was told that McGhie, bound by a recognizance issued by a court in Manitoba, was to abstain from alcohol and remain in good conduct, something he neglected to do on April 4, when police arrested him for being intoxicated in public and urinating on Main Street.
When police arrested him, McGhie had also been spotted checking vehicle doors in search of unlocked vehicles, and was found in a vehicle.
When Const. Wheeler of the RCMP tried to arrest McGhie, the accused had to be dragged out of the vehicle.
When given a chance by Judge Glass to speak, McGhie said that yes, he was drunk and yes, he had behaved badly, but his recognizance orders shouldn't apply to him because he's now in Alberta, and the order was issued in Manitoba.
His counsel, Mark Daoust, wasted no time in informing McGhie that recognizance orders are nation-wide, not limited to the province in which they are issued.
Crown noted that while it doesn't normally ask for enhanced credit, in McGhie's case it would, asking for nine days' enhanced credit as punishment. For McGhie's part, he didn't argue, and agreed to abide the orders of his recognizance.
“I hope not to be – I won't be – in this (situation) again,” he promised the Court.