H.P. court docket
Nov. 21, 2016
Judge D.R. Shynkar
An East Prairie man will be spending some more time behind bars after taking police on a high-speed chase.
Ryan Keith Cunning- ham, 38, was sentenced to 90 days in jail for failing to stop and evading police, and for dangerous driving after appearing in High Prairie provincial court Nov. 21.
“This offence of evading police is more serious,” Judge D.R. Shyn- kar said during sen- tencing.
“It was in a rural residential area and there was certainly potential for tragedy.”
Cunningham drove at speeds exceeding 120 km/hr in the area of Range Road 161 on Sept. 15 around 10:15 p.m., said Crown prosecutor Petter Hurich.
When police were driving at 120, “he was pulling away from them”.
With credit for 30 days served, Cunningham was granted a request to serve his time on weekends, except Dec. 23-25 for Christmas.
“He says he doesn’t trust police,” lawyer Harry Jong said.
“For some reason, he had anxiety.”
Judge Shynkar did not suspend Cunningham from driving, but he was reminded by the Crown that he could be banned for up to three years.
He added vehicles are more important for people in rural areas because of no public transportation.

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Vernon Wayne Laboucan, 28, of High Prairie, was fined $1,000, plus a $300 victim fine surcharge, for impaired driving.
He was stopped by police at Gift Lake on Aug. 29 around 3:10 p.m., Crown prosecutor Petter Hurich said.
“He admitted to police that he had been drinking since the night before,” Hurich said.
When tested at the police station, Laboucan recorded a breath sample 160 mg, double the legal limit of 80 mg.
“The reading of 160 is serious,” Judge D.R. Shynkar said.
Laboucan has a desire to end his lifestyle of drinking alcohol.
“He says he is getting older, and admits he has a drinking problem and wants to do something about it,” lawyer Harry Jong said.

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Rhoda Michelle Thunder, 35, was fined $400, plus a $120 victim fine surcharge, each on two counts of breach of probation.
Thunder failed to report to her probation officer in August and October on two separate probation orders, Crown prosecutor Petter Hurich said.
“I’m very remorseful for not reporting,” Thunder said as she appeared on closed-circuit television from Edmonton Remand Centre.

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Joseph Raymond Whalen, 30, was fined $400, plus a $120 victim fine surcharge, for possession for stolen property.
He was also fined $100, plus a $300 surcharge, for failing to comply with conditions, and $2,875 for driving a motor vehicle without insurance, including surcharge.
“It was his father’s vehicle” he was driving without permission, said duty counsel Amber Pickrell.
Inside the vehicle was his spouse, who he under court order to have no contact with.
“You can’t have her in the car,” Judge D.R. Shynkar said.