Stumble Upon

del.icio.us

Digg

Facebook

Print

Email

2 comment(s)

A Bathurst man will spend another four months in jail for his role in an assault with a baseball bat last November.

Chris Gray, 30, was in Bathurst Provincial Court last Friday for sentencing in front of Judge J. Frederic Arsenault. Mr. Gray was being sentenced after earlier pleading guilty to a charge of threats involving a weapon and a charge of aggravated assault in an incident where a 16-year-old male was beaten with a baseball bat.

Mr. Gray has been in custody since Nov. 16 after being arrested by Bathurst City Police. Judge Arsenault credited Mr. Gray with double time served, which is the equivalent of 11 months, but tacked on another four months and a $100 victim impact surcharge.

Mr. Gray was also given a six-month conditional sentence to be served in the community once his four months behind bars is up. He must remain at home except for medical emergencies or seeking employment. He is also allowed four hours a week away from his residence for purpose of purchasing personal goods.

After that, he will be on probation for18 months and must attend an anger management program. On Nov. 14, the Bathurst City Police arrested Mr. Gray and Paul Tremblay after a 16-year old was assaulted with a baseball bat on Assaff Street in Bathurst. According to police, the assault was motivated by the belief the teen was responsible for stealing electronic equipment from a vehicle.

Mr. Tremblay, 23, has pleaded not guilty to the aggravated assault charge and will go to Court of Queen's Bench and tried by judge alone. His trial will be held May 26 to 30.

In court last Friday, Mr. Gray was represented by defence lawyer Jonathan Noel and representing the Crown was Rene Dumeresque. According to the Crown, Mr. Gray did not swing the baseball bat, but did instigate the matter by inviting another individual to confront the victim about a stolen stereo.

The victim required reconstructive surgery as a result of the assault. In a victim impact statement, his mother said the beating shattered bones in her son's face, and that he still suffers headaches.

The Crown explained that aggravated assault can carry a harsh sentence depending on the circumstance and asked for a 12 to 18 month jail term, recognizing that Mr. Gray had spent the equivalent of 11 months in jail while on remand.

The defence said Mr. Gray just wanted to scare the victim and did not want to hurt him. Mr. Noel said Mr. Gray realized during his incarceration that he shouldn't have "taken the law into his own hands."

Mr. Gray read a letter to the court apologizing for his actions.

"I didn't think before my actions," he read and said he wants to start working again to provide for his family. (He has two young children with a common law partner, although the two are no longer together since his arrest.)

Judge Arsenault said priority should not be whatever impact the stereo theft had on Mr. Gray but the impact "to what (the victim) had to endure and continues to endure."

Judge Arsenault said the police are the ones who enforce the law and vigilantism can not be tolerated.

"If we tolerate that, it's an invitation for chaos in our society," said the judge.