A man facing several property-related offenses and a flight from police charge, has seven and half more months to serve.
Darcy Ewing appeared in provincial court in Drumheller on Friday, September 20. He pleaded guilty to a number of charges.
The court heard on February 22 shortly after 1 p.m. he was observed driving a 2007 Pontiac Torrent in Drumheller that had been stolen earlier out of Acme and had a dealer’s plate. An officer attempted to stop the vehicle on 3rd Avenue and Ewing fled, causing the officer to swerve to avoid a collision. Eventually, Ewing drove into a snowbank and was stuck. Even then he attempted to back up to free the vehicle but was unsuccessful.
He was arrested and in the vehicle were a number of stolen items including electronics, a gold watch and ignition keys for other vehicles.
On February 18 of this year, he was under the restrictions of an emergency protection order not to contact several family members. He sent a text message to his sister and brother in law. He violated this emergency protection order again on March 25 of this year when he attempted to call his father by phone who was in a senior care home.
He also pleaded guilty to break and enter and theft, stemming from an incident on February 16 at the home of his sister. He was observed breaking into two sheds on the property and then taking two jerry cans from a truck. Police attended and he was arrested.
The crown recommended an 18-month global sentence, giving him 1.5 credit for the 210 days he has spent in jail awaiting his day in court. This would leave approximately 7. 5 months to serve. The defense argued for one week’s time added to his time in custody followed by a probation order to allow Ewing to begin dealing with his substance abuse issues.
Judge Fraser sentenced Ewing to one year for the flight from police charge and six months for the possession of the stolen Pontiac Torrent. He was sentenced to 3 months for the breaches of the emergency protection orders, the break and enters and theft of jerry cans, to be served concurrently. He was given credit for 10.5 months of pre-trial custody leaving 7.5 months to be served.
