ATHABASCA — A Calling Lake man who threatened to shoot a man in the head with a BB gun, and faced a variety of other charges, was sentenced to 159 days in jail.
In Athabasca Provincial Court Feb. 7, Judge Clifton Purvis accepted guilty pleas from Charlie Cardinal Jr. for threats to cause harm or death; simple assault; two charges of resisting arrest; two charges of failing to comply with release conditions; possession of a dangerous weapon; and mischief causing damage under $5,000.
Crown prosecutor Patricia Hankinson gave an overview of the circumstances on each count starting on May 25, 2021, when Cardinal used a shovel to break down the door of a residence in Calling Lake and assaulted the male resident. He then walked over to the man’s truck and smashed out the driver’s side window before hiding on the property where the RCMP found him in a trailer.
He began to run at police screaming,” Hankinson said. “Police had to tackle Charlie to gain control as he was not listening to commands to stop and show his hands.”
Then, on Sept. 3, while released under conditions, Cardinal attended a residence and breached a no-contact order. He got into a verbal altercation with the residents and threatened another man with what appeared to be long barrel rifle.
“The accused also argued with (a man) … and in the course of that argument, while still in possession of the BB gun, threatened to shoot (him) in the head,” Hankinson said, adding when RCMP found Cardinal an hour later he was walking down Moose Dr. in Calling Lake, still carrying the BB gun, then fled into the woods, was later arrested Sept. 8, and had been in custody since.
On the May charges Hankinson said the Crown was seeking 10 days custody for mischief damages, one day concurrent for resisting arrest and 90 days concurrent for the assault plus a 12 month probation order.
For the September charges, Hankinson asked Judge Purvis to consider 18 days custody and 12 months of probation for threatening to shoot the man; one day consecutive for possession of a dangerous weapon; one day consecutive for breaching release orders; 30 days consecutive for breaching conditions and an additional 30 days concurrent for failure to comply with conditions.
The global sentence added up to 159 days and duty counsel Richard Forbes informed court Cardinal had been in custody since Sept. 8 — 152 actual days.
“His plan is to go to a healing society,” Forbes said. “He’ll be living in Edmonton and taking advantage of the resources there.”
Judge Purvis accepted the recommendation from the Crown and sentenced Cardinal to 159 days and 12 months of probation, deeming the custodial part of the sentence as time served.
