By Angela Brown

Onion Lake man sentenced to two years for charges that include evading police

Aug 28, 2018 | 5:00 PM

An Onion Lake man charged with fleeing police and drug and weapons offences in the Battlefords area was sentenced to a jail term of two years less a day Tuesday.

Jordan Waskewitch, 27, who is in custody, was initially expected to go to trial, but the Crown prosecutor and defence in the case ended up presenting a joint submission to the court instead. A charge of possession for the purposes of trafficking was changed to simple possession. Waskewitch entered guilty pleas to a number of charges including flight from police, possession of an illegal substance, and several weapons-related charges.

According to an agreed statement of facts read in court, Battlefords RCMP were called Jan. 11 after receiving a report of a possible impaired driver near the Battlefords. Police saw the accused driving at a high rate of speed who failed to stop for police, and managed to get around a police spike belt as well. 

The vehicle then veered off the road and into a snowy field where it became stuck. Court heard Waskewitch ran from the vehicle into the field, and was arrested by police soon after. Following the arrest, police returned to the scene with their police dog to search the vehicle and area. Items found at the scene and in Waskewitch’s possession included methamphetamine, brass knuckles, a switch-blade, an over-capacity magazine for a rifle, as well as a rifle.

The judge in the case accepted the joint submission Tuesday and sentenced the accused to a total sentence of two years less a day.

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Waskewitch addressed the court during sentencing, saying he takes responsibility for his actions. He said he has been working on improving himself while in custody and has managed to complete his GED. He is also working on getting treatment for substance abuse.  

Waskewitch has already served 229 days on remand while his case is before the courts, which works out to 344 days credit for time-and-a-half, leaving him with one year and 21 days left to serve. He received 18 months probation and was ordered to provide a DNA sample to the national registry. Waskewitch is banned from possessing firearms for 15 years following his release, and was handed a lifetime ban on restricted weapons. 

He was also ordered to pay $1,600 in surcharges related to the incident. 

Angela.brown@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @battlefordsNOW