ATHABASCA - A Calling Lake man will serve another 111 days in jail after pleading guilty to numerous charges including assault, possession of a dangerous weapon and resisting a peace officer.
In Athabasca Provincial Court Jan. 17, William Waspcolin, 42, pleaded guilty to 10 charges stemming from four different informations from the Edmonton Remand Centre, with Judge Brian Fraser presiding via Webex from the St. Albert courthouse, along with Crown prosecutor Patricia Hankinson.
The first set of charges related to an incident in Calling Lake on March 29, 2020 and resulted in two guilty pleas — one of assault, and another of resisting a peace officer. Hankinson told court, Waspcolin became convinced that his sister was someone else and lunged at her, striking her on the left side of her face and dislodging a tooth. When RCMP arrived, the accused was non-compliant and “actively resisted once in handcuffs.”
Hankinson asked for 29 days and 12 months’ probation on the first file.
On June 10, 2020, Athabasca RCMP responded to a complaint that Waspcolin had punched through an open window at a residence and ripped the screen from the frame. The resident asked for him to be removed from the property but when informed he was under arrest, Waspcolin refused to comply with directions.
“The accused grabbed a knife out of his bag and began swinging it around in front of him threatening the police, stating, ‘I'm going to throw this at you,’” Hankinson said.
Eventually he dropped the knife and was taken into custody but continued “to threaten to kill members when he got out of jail.”
Waspcolin pleaded guilty to possession of a dangerous weapon, mischief causing damage, threats to cause death and resisting a peace officer. Hankinson asked the judge for one day on the mischief charge, along with 12 months' probation: 29 days for the threats; and 60 days for resisting. She also asked for 30 days, to be served concurrently for the weapons charge.
On the next file, dated Oct. 2, 2021, guilty pleas were entered to charges of obstructing a peace officer, possessing identity documents that were not his own and breaching release conditions. Hankinson told court Edmonton police responded to a complaint from EMS staff on that day and Waspcolin refused to cooperate with officers when they told him to take his hands out of his pockets and continued to walk down the street.
When asked again to stop, Hankinson said he puffed out his chest “in a threatening manner” and raised two fists in “what police perceived to be a fighting stance.” After failing to comply with several more directions, police deployed the Taser and after a short foot pursuit, Waspcolin was taken into custody. During the subsequent search a stolen licence was recovered along with several throwing knives, which he was bound not to possess.
Hankinson asked for 19 days in jail on that information, along with one more day to be served consecutively for failing to attend court on Oct. 25.
Defence lawyer David Keyes agreed with the Crown’s suggestions on sentencing, which came to 140 days and 12 months’ probation.
Keyes gave court some background on his client, saying he was a member of the Dene Tha First Nation in Northwest Alberta, but moved to Calling Lake in his teens and still maintains a connection to his culture and traditions, including the language. His parents and grandparents are also residential school survivors and Waspcolin has also endured other significant family tragedies.
“He's struggled with alcoholism and some drug addictions throughout his life and still struggles with those and understands that these may haunt him for some time, but that he must govern himself and gain control of his life,” said Keyes, adding Waspcolin was waiving his right to a Gladue report.
Judge Fraser agreed with the joint submission, sentencing Waspcolin to 140 days, which leaves him with 111 to serve as he had been in custody since Dec. 30. In addition, Waspcolin will serve 12 months’ probation following his release, must submit his DNA and is prohibited from possessing weapons for five years.
