Honourable Judge Kathleen Williams went against a joint submission between the Crown prosecutor and defence counsel, who were recommending 120 days in custody for an accused with a list of offences.
"I think it's woefully low. I'm of the opinion it's not within the appropriate range of a global resolution for these matters," Williams said in Bonnyville court on Tuesday, Aug. 6.
Jacob P. John pleaded guilty to five counts of failing to appear in court, assault, two counts of possession of stolen property, and resisting arrest.
He was sentenced to 150 days in jail and a two-year weapons prohibition.
"Even then I think it's low," stated Williams during sentencing, noting the serious nature of the assault.
On July 17, 2018, RCMP were called to Heart Lake First Nation after John and his girlfriend assaulted her father.
According to Crown prosecutor Tyler MacLean, John had punched him and knocked him to the ground where he held him down, choking him.
John's girlfriend continued to hit her father while he was being held on the ground by John.
The man suffered minor injuries as a result.
Two months prior to this incident, John attempted to use a stolen credit card at the Lakeland Variety Store in Bonnyville. Police were called after the owner of the stolen card received notification it had been used in town.
The clerk identified John as the man who used the credit card, and during his arrest, police found the card in John's possession.
John was wanted on warrants when police were called to a Kehewin residence on June 12, 2019.
The complainant told RCMP John and his girlfriend were refusing to leave the property.
When officers arrived they found John and his girlfriend attempting to flee on bikes. John ran into his girlfriend and they both fell.
After finding his footing, John fled on foot into a nearby bush.
Police Dog Services tracked him down at a nearby property after a two-hour search.
According to MacLean, the 23-year-old Kehewin male has no prior violence-related convictions on his record.
As of his court appearance, John had been in custody for 57 days, or 86 enhanced days.
Taking his record into account, which had 29 convictions since 2009, Williams sentenced John to 150 days in jail.
"With the record before the court... I can't accept the joint recommendation," Williams explained, adding his record and the amount and nature of the charges he was pleading guilty to were all factors she considered.
John had 64 days left to serve, time Williams hoped would help him learn his lesson.
