Man remains behind bars for pattern of alleged violence

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This article was published 03/03/2023 (1173 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A 32-year-old man with a history of violence will remain in jail after racking up new charges and allegedly attacking his ex-girlfriend with bear spray.

Curtis Stevens, who has been behind bars since Feb. 23, was denied bail in court Thursday after his lawyer requested his release.

In her decision, Judge Shauna Hewitt-Michta considered Stevens’ criminal record, which she noted was “littered with violence,” as well as Stevens’ plan for release, which “fails utterly” in proving that he would attend court and not brush up against the law again if released, the judge stated.

The charges Stevens faces date back to April 20, 2021, when his ex-girlfriend went to his apartment to pick up her belongings after the relationship ended. The two then got into an argument, in which Stevens allegedly pulled out a conductive energy weapon and tried to use it on the woman. Stevens then allegedly attacked her with a can of bear spray he had in his apartment. She was on her way to a friend’s house when police found her, and she provided them with a statement of the alleged events involving Stevens.

Police were unable to find Stevens at the time, but he was eventually located and released on an order to not possess any weapons.

Stevens’ behaviour allegedly took another violent turn the following August.

This time, Stevens and a tenant who lived across from him were arguing when Stevens allegedly pushed his neighbour multiple times. He later reportedly appeared with bear spray when police were speaking with the tenant and Stevens was taken into custody for possession of a weapon.

The next month, in September, a witness alerted police of Stevens, claiming he had been yelling with a baseball bat in the back lane of Oliver’s Bistro on Eighth Street. The 911 caller also believed it was Stevens who had smashed the power box attached to the restaurant.

Police located Stevens and pursued him on foot, when Stevens allegedly continued to run despite police calling out that he was under arrest. Eventually, a witness told police that Stevens was hiding near a dumpster behind a bank. Officers arrested Stevens for mischief and resisting arrest.

Also in September, he was charged with sexual assault after Family and Child Services received a report that Curtis Eaglestick, an alias that Stevens allegedly uses, had reportedly sexually assaulted a girl while she was high on meth that Stevens provided to her.

Stevens has previously failed to comply with court orders and attend court dates, according to prosecutors.

“We’re having instances back-to-back of him not being able to follow court orders,” Crown attorney Caroline Lacey said.

Stevens, who appeared from Brandon Correctional Centre by video, quietly listened to the proceedings on Thursday.

Defence lawyer Anthony Dawson said Stevens has had a difficult life. Both of his parents were involved in the residential school system, and he spent most of his teenage years in child care where he moved between three different households. He said his father was drunk most of the time and he was physically abused.

Hewitt-Michta noted Stevens’ “voluminous” set of charges as well as the seriousness of the allegations, many of which involve violence, weapons and negative interactions with police.

She pointed out that Stevens has three convictions for failing to attend court and is now facing two more charges of the same thing.

“These are basic but very relevant public safety type conditions,” Hewitt-Michta said. “And the allegations, as I said, are of a pattern of persistent non-compliance.”

Stevens’ next court date is March 27.

» gmortfield@brandonsun.com

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