Judge Lane Wiegers looked rather incredulously at Ronald Grant McIntyre, asking him, “You were driving a car with the licence plate expired 17 years before?”
“Yes,” came the response.
McIntyre pleaded guilty Monday of driving on Aug. 20 with a blood alcohol level in excess of .08 near Glen Ewen.
Crown prosecutor Chris White laid out the case in Estevan Provincial Court on Monday. He noted Estevan RCMP Traffic Service had stopped McIntyre just north of Glen Ewen. There was an open case of beer on the seat beside him and he admitted he had been drinking.
When it came to the breathalyzer, McIntyre blew .120 and .110, in excess of the .08 legal limit.
Wiegers inquired if McIntyre had any issues, to which McIntyre replied in the negative.
McIntyre had a criminal record that White said was related, but dated.
Wiegers handed down a $1,300 fine, along with a $390 victim impact surcharge, which McIntyre will have one month to pay. He was also given a 12-month driving prohibition.
An associated driving while impaired charge was stayed.
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Brent K. Shier, 50, of Estevan, came home from a very long, 30-hour day in the oilfield and started drinking. At some point, he got hungry.
He was noticed leaving 7-Eleven “extremely intoxicated,” according to Crown prosecutor Chris White. He was reported, and police soon pulled him over and arrested him.
Defence attorney Kathryn Gilliss said he had some drinks at home and then went out. “He regrets that decision,” she said.
She noted Shier losing his licence will impact his work. He had a prior record from when has a younger adult.
A joint submission between the defence and Crown saw Shier plead guilty. Judge Wiegers agreed with the joint submission and handed down a $1,400 fine, $420 victim impact surcharge, and 12-month driving prohibition.
Wiegers noted that what jumped out at him was “the readings were very high, and that’s very concerning.”
Shier was given six months to pay his fine and surcharge.
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Morgan Konjolka was so drunk, she was driving her vehicle from shoulder to shoulder before finally hitting the ditch mid-afternoon on June 29.
Konjolka was northbound on Highway 47 north of Estevan at the time.
She was observed hitting the left ditch and skidding sideways. When police arrested her and put her in the back of the police vehicle, she slipped off her handcuffs. Police then had to remove her from the car and re-handcuff her, netting a resisting or obstructing a police officer charge in addition to a driving with a blood alcohol level in excess of .08 charge, both of which she pleaded guilty to on Monday.
As is customary, an associated driving while impaired charge was stayed with the conviction of the .08 charge.
Her blood alcohol levels were in excess of three times the legal limit, blowing .250 and .270.
Her lawyer noted she felt bad about what had happened and suggested substance abuse and anger management treatment.
Wiegers chided Konjolka and added, “Your behaviour in the police car was reprehensible, too”
He gave her credit for showing remorse and embarrassment.
The sentence came in at a $1,500 fine, $450 victim impact surcharge, and a suspended sentence with a 12-month probation order. She must attend substance abuse and anger management treatment, and has a 12-month driving prohibition.
Konjolka has nine months to pay.
