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BARRHEAD - A Swan Hills man received jail time, a hefty fine and an extended period of probation in connection with two domestic abuse incidents in the spring and summer.
In Barrhead Court of Justice, Lawrence Clayton Suecroft pleaded guilty to mischief under $5,000, common assault, and failing to comply with a release order.
Crown prosecutor Andrew Dirgo also withdrew two other charges of assault, failing to comply with an undertaking, and taking a motor vehicle without the owner's consent.
However, due to the 13 days Suecroft served in pretrial custody at 1.5-day credit, it is considered time served.
Probation conditions include keeping the peace and being of good behaviour, attending court when required to do so, notifying the court and probation order in advance of any change of name, residence, or employment, attending all treatment and counselling sessions for alcohol and drug abuse, anger management and domestic violence as ordered by the probation supervisor, and not have any weapons, prohibited devices, ammunition, or explosive substances. This includes any knives except for those to eat a meal. Suecroft is to have no contact with the complainant.
The facts
On April 21, 2022, Swan Hills RCMP received a domestic complaint from Suecroft's girlfriend concerning herself and the accused.
When members arrived on the scene, they found the woman outside her residence in her vehicle, crying, and she stated that she was concerned for her safety.
"The accused, moments before, had smashed the car window, putting his elbow through the glass with extreme force," Dirgo said.
He added that at the time, police did not know Suecroft's whereabouts, as they observed that all the doors to the residence were locked and saw no evidence of movement from inside, so they issued a warrant for his arrest.
The other incident occurred on July 13, when Swan Hills RCMP attended Suecroft's girlfriend's residence after she reported that he assaulted her the previous evening.
Dirgo said she told police that Suecroft visited her, and they went out drinking.
Upon returning to her residence, she told police that she and Suecroft started arguing.
"She woke up with swelling on her face as the result of Suecroft assaulting her but had significant problems remembering what had happened," Dirgo said, adding at the time, the accused was under a court order not to have any contact with the complainant.
He added that he believed that given Suecroft's brief criminal record, he was taking responsibility for his actions, as demonstrated by his guilty pleas, the proposed sentence was appropriate.
The defence
Sacher stated that his client is 25 years old, is a member of the Metis nation, is single with no dependents, and is waiving his right for a Gladue pre-sentencing report, even though his grandmother attended residential school.
A Gladue report is a document courts can use when considering the multitude of factors that can cause an Indigenous person to become in conflict with the law.
He also added that "growing up, his mother was a drug addict, and there was lots of violence and drinking and that he lived in group homes from when he was 12 to 16 years old.
He added that Suecroft has a Grade 11 education and is presently between jobs but would be starting work on a drilling rig in a few weeks.
"Mr. Suecroft is taking responsibility and accountability by his guilty pleas," Sacher said. "It is a true joint submission with a lot of tribal issues. He wants to do the right thing in terms of his actions."
Barry Kerton, TownandCountryToday.com
