Man gets eight months in jail for assaults

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This article was published 15/09/2023 (1106 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A man who pleaded guilty to assaulting two Child and Family Services workers in Birdtail Sioux First Nation last year was handed an eight-month jail sentence in court on Thursday.

Karl Johnson, 35, will spend more time behind bars after pleading guilty to six charges, including multiple counts of assault. The Crown and defence differed in the recommended sentence for the man — the Crown asked for nine months behind bars, while defence asked for seven months.

Crown attorney Rich Lonstrup read the evidence for the charges in court.

In September 2022, two Child and Family Services workers arrived at a Birdtail Sioux First Nation home after a report that Johnson and his ex-partner were drinking at the home while a baby was present. When the workers entered the home, they saw the duo sitting at the table, drinking, while they had the baby.

When Johnson started to get mad, the workers had called police for backup. A fight broke out between Johnson and his partner and the CFS workers intervened to break up the fight. When the workers tried to restrain Johnson, he pushed both the workers and struck each of them.

Johnson also pleaded guilty to an incident earlier this year in July, when he assaulted the same ex-partner. Police found the woman covered in blood and arrested Johnson, who was found in the home as well.

Johnson also pleaded guilty to charges for breaching court orders prohibiting him from being in contact with his ex-partner. In multiple instances, Johnson was found by police in the home of his ex-partner, hiding from authorities — once under a pile of clothing, and another time hiding under the house in a crawlspace.

Lonstrup focused his sentencing submissions on urging the judge to give Johnson a sentence that would serve as deterrence and denunciation for the seriousness of assaulting CFS workers.

The Crown attorney said that CFS workers don’t get weapons, body armour or self-defence training, but are sent into dangerous and emotionally difficult situations.

“People who wouldn’t take a shot at a police officer might feel bullying enough to take that shot at a CFS worker because you’re talking about still a workforce that’s predominantly younger and female,” Lonstrup said. “And they’re an easy target — a clear message needs to be sent [that] this is intolerable under any circumstances.”

Johnson’s defence lawyer, Bob Harrison said that his 35-year-old client should be given credit for taking responsibility for his offences with his guilty pleas. Harrison said that Johnson told him that he was intoxicated during all of his offences and that he wants to work on his anger management and drinking issues.

Harrison said that Johnson wants to start work at a restaurant once he gets out of jail.

Judge Patrick Sullivan said that he was concerned about the ongoing contact Johnson had with his ex-partner that culminated in the assault that left her bloodied.

“It’s all bad, but that in particular, strikes me as very concerning,” the judge said.

He said that he agreed with the Crown that the assault on the CFS workers was serious, as the workers have a difficult job and were trying to help a child when Johnson assaulted them.

The judge gave Johnson credit for his guilty pleas and said that he was pleased that the 35-year-old has intentions to get treatment for the underlying issues that contributed to his offending.

Ultimately, Sullivan sentenced Johnson to eight months behind bars as well as a one year of supervised probation.

After time served, Johnson will spend another four months in jail.

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