WESTLOCK – An area man who faced 14 charges ranging from assault to failing to comply with the conditions of a release order, pleaded guilty to a lone charge and received a 20-day jail sentence.
In Westlock Provincial Court March 1, Phillip Badrock pleaded guilty to failing to comply with the conditions of an undertaking, while seven identical charges, plus four counts of failing to comply with release-order conditions and two charges of assault were withdrawn by Crown prosecutor Ashlee Kirby.
Judge Gerry Annetts agreed to a joint-sentence submission from Kirby and defence lawyer Richard Forbes on a 20-day jail sentence for Badrock, time deemed served by 15 “actual days” he spent in jail following his Oct. 17, 2022, arrest — Kirby noted that Badrock previously served 14 days in jail in 2020 for a similar offence. Judge Annetts also agreed to waive the victim-fine surcharge, with Forbes saying that “given his lack of resources, lack of current employment and the fact that he and his mother are sharing the money they have to get by on, it’s our submission it would be a hardship.”
Forbes said Badrock, who’s unemployed and is not receiving “any assistance”, lives with his elderly mother who struggles with mobility issues while he lost his father and son just prior to the incident and “that led to some erratic behaviour.” Forbes added that the case had been slated to go to trial that day, but the one of the Crown witnesses had not shown up.
“This is Mr. Badrock’s final matter before the court and it’s his goal to avoid the triggers that led to this type of behaviour and to put these charges behind him,” said Forbes.
Court heard that as part of an undertaking, Badrock was not supposed the attend the residence of his former common-law partner who lived in Westlock County and was arrested by RCMP at the scene Oct. 17, 2022.
