BOYLE – A Fort McMurray man who took his girlfriend’s car without permission, drove it up to 200 km/h, and then ran it into a guardrail on Highway 63 last summer, will pay a fine, will be subject to a number of conditions, serve probation and will not be allowed to drive for 18 months.
In Boyle Provincial Court Feb. 8 Judge Robert Shaigec ordered Conrad Earl Ross, 32, to pay a $750 fine (plus a $225 victim fine surcharge) for taking his girlfriend’s vehicle without her consent and will also be subject to a six-month conditional sentence order followed by 12 months of probation and an 18-month driving prohibition for dangerous operation of a motor vehicle. Ross attended the appearance over the telephone.
Crown prosecutor Anthony Estephan told court Boyle RCMP responded to a call regarding a domestic dispute in Wandering River Aug. 15, 2021, and when they arrived learned Ross had taken the woman’s car without her permission, while intoxicated, and without a driver’s licence.
At about the same time another call regarding a single-vehicle collision, involving a vehicle matching the description, about seven kilometres north of Wandering River came into the police, Estephan said.
A witness on the scene told police the vehicle passed him going 180-200 km/h and he came upon it soon after immobilized in the centre of the highway. The witness also told RCMP when he stopped to interact with Ross, he was “visibly intoxicated” and did not know what caused the collision.
It was later determined he collided with the guardrail, which deployed the vehicle’s side airbags and brought it to a stop.
Estephan submitted Ross’ criminal record as evidence which showed offences from 2007-2015, including a similar taking a vehicle without consent charge from 2009 and 13 other convictions for breaching court orders. He did add however Ross is not considered a danger to the public.
Defence lawyer Robert Gladu admitted to the facts and the record and agreed to Estephan’s recommendations on sentencing. He also noted almost all of the entries on Ross’ criminal record were as a result of alcohol abuse, and that he was taking steps to address that problem by entering a detox facility late last year and is currently seeking information about residential treatment programs. He was also recently employed by a major oilfield company, Gladu said.
Judge Shaigec expressed his concern over the previous breaches but said there was enough of a break in Ross’ record to believe he would follow his conditions. Shaigec addressed the defendant to hand down his sentence to the guilty pleas, calling it “remarkably dangerous” to drive 200 km/h while impaired on Highway 63 “which is a dangerous stretch of roadway when you’re driving at 100 km/h and sober.”
“The seriousness of this offense is extreme,” he said.
Shaigec agreed with much of the joint submission, particularly on the fine, the length of the CSO and the driving prohibition, but he took exception to several of the conditions and made his own revisions.
Ross must be inside his residence between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. for the first three months and remain within Alberta; must keep the peace; and must report to a supervisor or probation officer within 48 hours and thereafter and must abide by their directions especially as it applies to drug and alcohol treatment. Further, he must not be in a vehicle without the registered owner present and cannot drive a vehicle for the next 18 months. Shaigec also added a $100 victim fine surcharge.
“If you breach any of the conditions of this order in the next six months, the presumption is that the remainder of the sentence is spent in jail,” said the judge.
