An Inuvik man who triggered an hours-long standoff with police after firing three rifle shots during a domestic dispute was handed a 10-month sentence in NWT Supreme Court Tuesday.
The 46-year-old man, who isn't being named by News/North due to the domestic nature of the offence, told Justice Andrew Mahar he wants to get back to his life after pleading guilty to careless use of a firearm.
In October of last year, the court heard, the man and his common-law partner were staying at their remote cabin located near the Dempster Highway when an argument ensued. The man, who was intoxicated, picked up a rifle, loaded it and fired one shot – outside of the cabin – towards the highway.
His partner left the cabin. As she walked away, the man fired another shot. The woman reached their vehicle and parked on the highway, where she heard the man fire a third shot. She drove within cellphone range and called a relative who called the RCMP.
Police arrived at the cabin, setting up a perimeter before making several attempts to get the man to come out and surrender. RCMP used sirens, lights and night-vision cameras during the standoff.
At 9:30 a.m., the man left the cabin and was arrested without incident.
Responding police noted a shot had broken one of the cabin's windows.
In his call for a one-year jail term followed by three years probation, Crown prosecutor Jay Potter said the use of the rifle during the “frightening” domestic dispute was aggravating.
Potter also emphasized the fact that the man fired one shot in the direction of the highway, pointing out how fortunate it was that no one was harmed.
The man's lengthy criminal record includes convictions for possessing a dangerous weapon in 1999 and assault with a weapon and attempted murder in 2000. He received a four year prison sentence for the latter conviction.
The man's lawyer, Jay Bran, said his client had a “serious,” but dated criminal record. Bran noted the man had been a victim of violence himself and asked Mahar to deem his remand time as time served.
In handing down his sentence, Mahar echoed the Crown's comments, saying it was fortunate no one was injured as the result of the man's reckless use of the firearm.
With credit for time served in pre-trial custody – 280 days – the man had 45 days left to serve on the 10-month sentence. But the man won't spend more than 30 more days behind bars, as he is statutorily required to be released in a month's time.
The man must submit a sample of his DNA and is barred from contacting his partner unless she gives consent.
Mahar agreed to the Crown's request for a firearms ban following the man's release, but will allow the offender, who often hunts in the community, to seek an exemption for the purpose of sustenance.