A man living in Athabasca will have to be on his best behaviour after he pleaded guilty to causing a disturbance for an incident that included throwing a barbecue at his wife.
On his first appearance, 42-year-old Andrew Fougere was handed an 18-month probation period in Athabasca Provincial Court Oct. 2.
Reading from the agreed statement of facts, Crown prosecutor Mark Facundo said that on July 21, RCMP received a complaint from Fougere’s wife that he was intoxicated.
Facundo said that after a verbal dispute, Fougere consumed alcohol and threw a cooking pot and a barbecue at his wife. He then got into his truck and was observed driving and causing a disturbance.
Defense counsel Kent Teskey noted that a number of people called police about the disturbance. He said his client was very intoxicated and does not recall what happened.
Teskey presented two letters of recommendation from Fougere’s workplace as well.
“My client is well thought of by people who are aware of this matter in the community; this was seen to be out of character, and quite surprising that it occurred,” he said, noting that Fougere volunteers with the local Beavers organization as well as with minor hockey. “He’s deeply remorseful.”
Teskey said Fougere is originally from Halifax and came to Athabasca in 2006 with his family.
He said his client has commenced alcohol counselling, and he has not lived in his family’s house for two months. He said he did not believe it would be contrary to the public’s interest for Fougere to have a conditional discharge.
“I’m very sorry about what happened,” Fougere said in the courtroom. “I’ve lost the trust of my wife.”
The terms of Fougere’s conditional discharge are that he will have to keep the peace and be of good behaviour, attend all recommended treatment and counselling including alcohol and anger management sessions, and refrain from contacting his wife except through a legal representative.
