A 45-year-old man from the Buffalo Lake Métis Settlement landed a 105-day prison sentence and a $4,990 fine for a laundry list of offences dating back to 2014.
Appearing from the Edmonton Remand Centre in Boyle Provincial Court Oct. 24 via closed-circuit television, David Leslie Ladouceur pleaded guilty to possession of a controlled substance, being unlawfully in a dwelling house, driving while suspended, failing to attend a court date, uttering threats, property mischief and failing to comply with conditions.
“I’d like to apologize for all the stuff I’ve done,” Ladouceur said. “This has totally changed me.”
Reading from an agreed statement of facts, Crown prosecutor Greg Gudelot said that on March 17, 2014, RCMP were conducting patrols around 10:45 p.m. in the Buffalo Lake Métis Settlement. Ladouceur was pulled over, as he was driving while suspended. Police seized the vehicle and arrested him.
Gudelot said that on June 21, 2014, Ladouceur entered a residence where there was a young child. He said the child was scared and did not let the defendant into the house. Gudelot also said the child’s mother did not let him into the house, either. Gudelot said that at the time, Ladouceur said he was being chased by two women with weapons.
Court then heard that on Jan. 13, 2015, after he had been released from police custody, he did not attend a court date.
Gudelot said that on Jan. 6, 2017, Ladouceur was driving around Caslan when he was stopped by police, when he admitted he had been suspended.
Reading from an agreed statement of facts, federal Crown prosecutor Melina Rawluk said Boyle RCMP received a domestic complaint at 1:30 a.m. Sept. 13. Upon attending the complainant said Ladouceur had tried to give her pills in exchange for a place to stay the night.
Gudelot said the complainant kicked him out. He then banged on the door until she said she was going to call police. Gudelot said he then cut the phone line so she could make not calls and continued to bang on the door.
Rawluk said police then found Ladouceur, and he was carrying 85 pills they believed to be oxycodone.
Gudelot pointed out that Ladouceur had a criminal record that included seven prior driving convictions including driving without a license and driving while suspended.
Defense counsel David Keyes said his client is Métis, and although he waived a Gladue report, Gladue factors were a factor in the case.
Keyes said Ladouceur’s father attended residential school. He said Ladouceur had a Grade 9 education, and had four older brothers who had also been involved in the criminal justice system. Keyes also pointed out that substance abuse issues were high in the Buffalo Lake Métis Settlement, and there were few jobs.
He said his client would be seeking employment in Edmonton as a heavy equipment operator while living with his son. He also said Ladouceur had been working with AADAC for addictions counselling and had also worked on anger management and life skills.
“I’m just hoping you see fit to release me today,” Ladouceur said.
Judge Michčle Collinson noted that the guilty pleas were a mitigating factor in his sentence, as well as his commitment to getting his life back on track.
She handed Ladouceur a total prison sentence of 105 days, deemed served, along with $4,990 in fines.
She gave him three 60-day sentences – for uttering threats, mischief and failing to comply with conditions – to be served concurrently, as well as a five-year weapons prohibition. He had already spent 40 days in prison, and was given time-and-a-half credit, adding up to 60 days.
He was given a 45-day sentence to be served consecutively for the charge of being unlawfully in a dwelling house, which was also deemed already served by pre-trial custody. He was also ordered to pay a $200 victim fine surcharge. He also received a seven-day sentence for the possession of a controlled substance charge, which was to be served concurrently, along with another $200 victim fine surcharge.
To top it off, Ladouceur was also handed a $2,000 fine for driving while suspended, a $390 fine for failing to appear in court, and a $2,200 fine for driving while unauthorized.
“I really do wish you luck going forward,” Collinson said.
