Decison to drive proves to be poor decision

H.P. Court Docket
Judge T.R. Goodson

A man who thought it was safe for him to drive after having a few drinks paid a heavy price for his actions in High Prairie provincial court Oct. 22. Frank M. Bellerose pleaded guilty to drunk driving and lost his licence for one year. Bellerose, 21, was stopped by police on Sept. 17 at 3:10 a.m. after police noticed he was driving too fast on 53 Ave. in High Prairie. Police quickly noticed the usual signs of impairment and arrested Bellerose, who later refused to provide a breath sample. Duty counsel lawyer Harry Jong appeared in court with Belle- rose, formerly of High Prairie but now living in Dawson Creek, B.C. “He tells me some friends of his picked him up and they were consuming alcohol,” said Jong. At the time, Bellerose was a passenger. He decided later in the evening he was more sober than the driver so he decided to take the wheel. It proved to be a big mistake. “He got caught two blocks afterwards,” said Jong. Bellerose, who had no criminal record, spent two days in jail before being released. Judge Thomas R. Goodson fined Belle- rose $690 including a victim fine surcharge in addition to the usual one-year driving prohibition. He did grant Bellerose the right to apply for the government’s Interlock program after three months. Time to pay the fine was granted to March 29, 2008. - - - - - - - Allan George Anderson was prohibited from driving for one year and fined $1,000 after pleading guilty to drunk driving. Anderson, 25, of Gift Lake, gave blood alcohol readings exactly three times the legal limit during his arrest, which prompted the higher than usual fine. It wasn’t hard for police to see what was going on the afternoon of Aug. 3 at 1:50 p.m. when Anderson was arrested. “He was driving a car ... both tires on the passenger side were off the rims,” said Crown prosecutor David Stilwell. “The police stopped him thinking it was a bit odd.” Anderson displayed the usual signs of impairment including slurred speech and the odor of alcohol. Both blood alcohol readings were .240. Duty counsel lawyer Harry Jong spoke for Anderson in court. “The vehicle was his mother’s,” said Jong. “He was consuming alcohol with some friends. He just took the car to go and see his girlfriend. He went into the ditch and the tires popped.” Judge Goodson fined Anderson $1,000 but gave him the right to apply for the government’s Interlock program after three months. Time to pay the fine was granted to March 28, 2008. - - - - - - - Brian J. Greiger and James W. Mitchell both appeared in court and pleaded guilty to fighting in a public place. The charge was laid under the Town of High Prairie’s municipal bylaw on Sept. 27. Court heard that Greiger went to Mitchell’s house. The two agreed to go outside where the fight began. “(The fight) was deemed to be consensual by both parties,” said lawyer Harry Jong. “He came to my house and knocked on the door,” said Mitchell, adding the fight occurred in the front yard. Judge Thomas R. Goodson fined both men $250 or four days in lieu with time to pay granted to Jan. 4, 2008. - - - - - - - A Peavine man pleaded no contest in High Prairie provincial court Oct. 22 to a charge of drunk driving. Reginald E. Carifelle was prohibited from driving for one year and fined $1,000 for his actions. Carifelle, 41, was stopped just before noon on the day in question, Crown prosecutor David Stilwell told court. Police saw that Carifelle was not wearing his seatbelt. Upon further investigation, they noticed signs of impairment. Later, Carifelle blew consecutive samples of .170 or just over twice the legal limit. Carifelle had a criminal record but it was over 20 years old and not a factor during sentencing. Duty counsel lawyer Harry Jong spoke for Carifelle in court. He said his client was employed at the Peavine school construction site. “He did have quite a bit to drink the night before,” said Jong, thereby admitting to the crime for Carifelle. Judge Thomas R. Goodson gave Carifelle until May 28, 2008 to pay the fine. He also granted Bellerose the right to apply for the government’s Interlock program after three months. - - - - - - - Roseanne Marie Chalifoux will be spending the next few days in jail after pleading guilty to failing to report to her probation officer. Chalifoux, 23, pleaded guilty to breach of probation and waived time to pay, meaning she will serve the time behind bars. Crown prosecutor David Stilwell told Judge T.R. Goodson that Chalifoux, who now resides in Slave Lake, pleaded guilty in court May 8 to assault. She was ordered to report to a probation officer on May 18, which she did. However, Stilwell added that Chalifoux did not report as directed June 12. Harry Jong appeared in court as duty counsel to speak for Chalifoux. He said that Chalifoux’s stepdaughter became sick in Edmonton so she left to visit her. Jong added that Chalifoux said she would be gone for about three months. However, Judge Goodson was not sympathetic and levied the $200 fine. - - - - - - - Warren Tylor Carifelle was sentenced to 45 days in prison after pleading guilty to failing to comply with an undertaking. However, Carifelle spent 24 days in custody before being released so under the two days served for one deal he was immediately released. Court heard that on Sept. 12 Carifelle was ordered to not consume alcohol. On the day in question, said Crown prosecutor David Stilwell, Carifelle was caught drinking at the Cozy Corner Pub in High Prairie by police doing a routine patrol. Harry Jong appeared in court with Carifelle as duty counsel. He said the man, 25, of Peavine, was drinking because he was depressed and “thought he could use a drink”.

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