A man from the Hanna area was sentenced to 45 days in custody and a nine month probationary period, which is to include 25 hours of community service, after pleading guilty to a total of seven charges stemming from six incidents in Alberta Court of Justice in Drumheller on Friday, September 8.
Joseph Peloquin, who was 33 years old at the time of the offenses, appeared in person and entered guilty pleas to a single count of assault, four counts of breaching conditions of his release, and two counts of failing to appear in court.
The court heard how on February 22, 2022 RCMP received a complaint from Mr. Peloquin’s domestic partner. An altercation took place where Mr. Peloquin allegedly spat in his partner’s face and used physical force against her after Mr. Peloquin had collapsed and his partner had called 9-1-1.
Mr. Peloquin also pleaded guilty to four breaches of release conditions stemming from three separate incidents.
The first was from February 23, 2022, a day after the altercation with his domestic partner, when he was found to have been texting and calling her which was in breach of his release condition. He similarly breached this order on June 25 and August 2 of this year when he was located with his partner in Hanna and at her residence by RCMP respectively; during the June 25 incident, RCMP also located a pocket knife on Mr. Peloquin, which was also in breach of his release condition.
Mr. Peloquin also pled guilty to two counts of failing to appear in court in Hanna on May 20, 2022 and July 26, 2023.
A joint disposition was submitted by Crown and defense for a 45 day sentence, less any pre-trial custody, with a 12 month probationary period. This would include a no contact order with the complainant, and a DNA submission.
The Honourable Justice K.A. Crowshoe accepted the sentence, reducing the probationary period to nine months and adding 25 hours of community service. The community service is to be completed within the first three months following release, and Justice Crowshoe expressed the importance of Mr. Peloquin exploring his Metis background and ancestry, and what it means to be Metis.
Justice Crowshoe also directed Crown prosecution to refer Mr. Peloquin’s domestic partner to victim services.
Remaining charges were withdrawn.
