Alexandra Megan Dillon told the Bonnyville Provincial Courthouse it was fear that put her in the passenger seat of a stolen vehicle last spring.
On Nov. 20, 2018, Dillon pled guilty to taking a motor vehicle without consent and two counts of breaching probation. She adjourned her sentencing for the completion of a Gladue report.
During her Tuesday, Feb. 19 court appearance, the 23-year-old Onion Lake, SK female was sentenced to 15 months probation, living under a strict 24-hour curfew for the first 60 days.
The charges stem from a May 17, 2018 incident.
According to Crown prosecutor Tyler MacLean, it all started when Bonnyville RCMP were dispatched to a Red GMC Envoy that had been reported stolen out of Vermilion. A spike belt was deployed, but the driver, Darren Raine Moocheweines, didn’t pull over.
Instead, he continued to flee until the vehicle caught fire.
Dillon, who was a passenger in the stolen vehicle, and Moocheweines were arrested.
Further investigation revealed that earlier that day, a woman had spotted Moocheweines assaulting Dillon on the side of the road.
When she pulled over to offer her help, Moocheweines and Dillon got into the car and took off.
The pair abandoned the vehicle in Vermilion and stole another before heading back to Bonnyville where they were ultimately arrested.
Fifteen months of probation was a joint submission between the Crown and Dillon’s defence counsel.
MacLean said based on her involvement in the incident, they felt “an extended period of probation would be appropriate.”
Defence counsel Jana Fleming told Honourable Judge Kathleen Williams that Dillon was under duress in the moments leading up to the initial theft.
“She had fears of him on that day that if she didn’t do what she was told, she would pay a penalty.”
Fleming described how years of witnessing and experiencing domestic violence have played a role in her compliance.
“She feels compelled to do what she’s told,” she stressed.
According to Fleming, Moocheweinis, who is the father of one of Dillon’s children, has been charged with murder, justifying Dillon’s fears.
Although it didn’t meet the legal threshold of “duress,” Fleming wanted to stress the fear Dillon was feeling at the time of the incident.
Fleming explained how the Gladue report outlined years of Dillon witnessing her father abuse her mother, going in and out of foster care, and struggling with her own addiction with methamphetamine and abusive relationships.
Shortly after her arrest, Dillon wrote a letter of apology to the woman who had pulled over to help her in a time of need.
“That shows immediate remorse,” detailed Fleming, adding Dillon wishes to apologize to the other victims of the incident.
The mother of two will spend the first 60 days of her probation under a 24-hour curfew. She is only allowed to leave her residence for five hours per week to obtain the necessities of life, a trip that must be pre-approved by a probation officer.
Dillon suffers from an addiction to methamphetamine, and is hoping to get treatment.
She will reside with her mother and two children in Onion Lake, SK, is not permitted to be in a vehicle without the registered owner present, take counselling in relation to addictions, family violence, parenting, sexual abuse, and anger management.
“She’s clearly in an abusive relationship,” Williams expressed.
Dillon will also write a letter of apology to the victims.
Fleming said because of her age, Dillon “still has an opportunity to turn things around.”
