An Inuvik man will serve 69 days behind bars for threatening staff at a gas station and police after his arrest.
In Inuvik Territorial Court Feb. 4 the man, who Inuvik Drum has chosen not to identify out of sensitivity to his mental health issues, pleaded guilty to two counts of criminal harassment. Chief Judge Robert Gorin sentenced him to 120 days in jail and barred him from having firearms or explosives for seven years, but permitted him to serve his sentence on weekends. Because he spent 34 days in custody, he has 51 days credit. Following his sentence, he will be on probation for two years.
Noting the man was diagnosed with bipolar and possible anxiety disorder, Gorin said he weighed both the man's mental health with the fact he had 30 past incarcerations for uttering threats and violence, the most recent in 2018.
"In arriving at this sentence, I did take into account the large number of related offences," said Gorin in his judgment. "I accept that your bipolar disorder and your possible anxiety disorder do cause you to face difficulties that you address with drugs and alcohol. But the record shows you have not learned from past sentences, there are so many convictions for breaching court.
"I'm not sure anything other than physical incarceration will be followed."
Crown prosecutor Billi Wun told court on March 29, 2019 RCMP were called to an industrial business and gas station at 10:30 p.m. when the man refused to leave the site. He had left by the time police arrived, but they heard he had threatened to blow up the buildings and residence of the business owner.
One hour later, police were called back to the site as the man had returned. When police searched the area, they found him hiding underneath a wash truck and when they attempted to arrest him he resisted.
During the arrest, Wun said the man made repeated threats to the police officers, their families and the public.
"He said he was going 'to execute you both and RPG your houses,'" said Wun, noting also that he threatened to sodomize one of the officers.
Defence lawyer Evan McIntyre said the man had been involved in a serious accident two weeks prior to the offence at the gas station when there was an explosion when he was working.
"From what I can tell, it's a miracle he survived," said McIntyre.
McIntyre told court the man had been diagnosed when he lived and worked in Alberta and his treatment was covered through a benefits program. But when he moved back, there was no money for him to get treatment. He has been receiving treatment since the incident and has been having no issues.
McIntyre added the man had grown up in an abusive household, including physical abuse from his stepfather. The man had started abusing drugs and alcohol at age 13.
"My record is, no doubt, very embarrassing. Very shameful," said the man in his defence. "My mental health is one of many things I have to address. I'm trying to demonstrate that I'm doing everything in my power to change. Stopping drinking and drugs doesn't make me innocent, but it makes life easier to manage.
"I'm just trying."
Judge Gorin said the man was showing he was working towards getting his life in order, but cautioned him not to slip again.
"This conduct is completely unacceptable. I have no doubt if you continue to drink, you will continue to appear before the courts.
"You're playing Russian roulette with your own freedom."