A man who damaged private property and uttered threats to several women who rejected his advances will spend six months in behind bars.
On Feb. 24 at Inuvik Territorial Court the man, who will not be named because of his mental health issues, was sentenced for one count of mischief and two counts of uttering threats to cause bodily harm, which he had previously pleaded guilty to. Judge Robert Gorin sentenced him to six months, placed him on probation for 18 months following his release and barred him from possessing firearms for three years.
He also recommended the man receive a thorough psychological assessment while in jail, noting the man's legal problems were rooted deeply in colonial trauma and the man was living with schizophrenia and an alcohol addiction.
"It would appear clear he has suffered many of the negative factors affecting Indigenous people that are all too common in Canada," said Gorin in his judgment. "It is far more difficult to stay out of trouble when you have a background like the one (this man) has experienced."
However, Gorin also noted the man's conduct led to several people to be very afraid for their well-being. He pointed out the man had an extensive and related criminal record.
Crown prosecutor Georgios Phillips told court the man's most recent problems with the law began May 12, when RCMP received a complaint from a local grocery store about a doorway that had been kicked in and damaged.
Surveillance footage showed the man following a woman to the doorway of the building. When the woman went inside, the man began kicking the door. The doorway was jammed shut and cost at least $800 to fix.
Then, on June 5 RCMP received a complaint from a convenience store about the man harassing customers. Police then received a second complaint from an individual who said the accused had hit on and then insulted his girlfriend.
The individual had gone to the store and spoken to the accused. Afterwards, the accused walked over to the vehicle and informed the individual he would "shoot him in the face."
Defense Lawyer Robin Parker said the man did not remember the events in question, but agreed the complainants were telling the truth.
Phillips then told court on Aug. 22, police received a report of the man harassing women at a convenience store again. A woman reported he had approached her and had made derogatory, sexual comments to her that she ignored. After not getting a reaction out of the woman, the man told her he would "take you out and <expletive> you up."
The woman waited for several minutes for the man to leave, but discovered he had waited for her in the parking lot. When he began yelling at her and approached her, she locked herself in her truck and called RCMP.
"These were random bystanders that he threatened," said Phillips. "The victims were quite frightened and in one case reduced to tears."
RCMP noted in their report when they arrested the man he had slurred speech and glazed over eyes. Parker told court the man had no recollection of the event.
In his defence, the man apologized to the court for his actions and said he wanted to find a way to deal with his mental health problems.
"I can only imagine what people in this courtroom are thinking," said the man. "I'm a different person when I'm sober than when I'm drinking."
Parker said the man was the survivor of inter-generational trauma and had been coping with mental health issues, including schizophrenia, for his entire life.
She added that all three victims in the case had said they would rather see him get help than go to prison.
"It really highlights a lack of psychiatric treatment available in the North," she said.