Justice: But co-accused from St. Stephen pleads not guilty to charges

C2

Madeleine Leclerc
Canadaeast News Service

Stumble Upon

del.icio.us

Digg

Facebook

Print

Email

1 Comment(s)

GRAND FALLS - Stephen Williams Buttee, 39, of Saint John, has pleaded guilty to assaulting Sébastien Themens, causing a disturbance at the Dooly's club located on Broadway Boulevard in Grand Falls by using insulting language, fraudulently obtaining beverages and unlawfully having marijuana in his possession.

At 12:38 a.m. on Sept. 23, town police responded to a panic alarm at Dooly's.

"Themens, the club's owner, told police that two individuals had just left after causing trouble," said Crown prosecutor Charles Couturier in court.

"Buttee had pushed Themens and pushed chairs onto the floor. Both individuals had left without paying. Police found two grams of marijuana on Buttee's person."

The Crown prosecutor added that Buttee had been working on a construction project at the time and had no recent convictions.

The Crown recommended fines between $300 and $400 and a six-month supervised probation period.

"I'm hardly a spring chicken anymore," Buttee told the court. "This was out of character for me. I was doing demolition work at a local car dealership. It was our last night in town, and I got caught up in an ugly environment. I work for a living."

Buttee's former boss defended him.

"When winter comes, he helps me with snow removal. All my customers like Stephen. I've never seen violence from him. He is a good-hearted fella and helps you out when you are in a bind. I've never seen him lose his temper," the former boss said.

Judge Duffie fined Buttee $200 and a $30 surcharge for assaulting Themens as well as a $100 fine and a $15 surcharge for causing a disturbance. He was granted until March 31 to pay the fines and surcharges.

On the other two charges, Buttee received a suspended sentence and six months' probation during which he must keep the peace, be of good behaviour, abstain from consuming any alcoholic beverages and pay a $20 restitution to the court before Nov. 16. He is also prohibited from going to any licenced establishment except restaurants.

Buttee's co-accused, John Jason Richardson, 23, of St. Stephen pleaded not guilty to charges of assaulting Themens, causing a disturbance at the Dooly's club by using insulting language and fraudulently obtaining beverages from Dooly's.

His trial will be held on Jan. 28. He was released on an undertaking stipulating that he must remain within the jurisdiction of New Brunswick, abstain from going to Dooly's and from consuming any alcoholic beverages and appear in court on Jan. 28.