Addict gets time served for violent outbursts
John Patrick Doyon, 39, of Fredericton, had been remanded after violating conditions of release by having contact with woman he assaulted, threatened this summer
A Fredericton man who threatened to assault a pharmacy staffer, menaced his girlfriend with a cane and threatened to kill her cat had served enough time in jail already for his crimes, a court ruled last week.
John Patrick Doyon, 39, of no fixed address, appeared in Fredericton provincial court in custody in person Thursday for sentencing, having previously admitted to several charges.
Crown prosecutor Brett Stanford said Fredericton police officers responded to the Shoppers Drug Mart on Prospect Street on Feb. 9 after receiving a call about “an unwanted male banging on the windows.”
When they arrived, court heard, Doyon was there, and a pharmacy official told them the offender was causing problems at the business.
Doyon was upset and had threatened to beat up the staff member, Stanford said, and he was generally causing a stir by yelling and hitting the windows.
“Customers were leaving as a result of the behaviour,” the prosecutor said.
Consequently, Doyon was charged with uttering threats and causing a disturbance.
Police encountered Doyon again Aug. 9 after responding to a call of a domestic disturbance at about 5:30 p.m. at the 12 Neighbours tiny-home community on the city’s north side, Stanford said.
He noted the investigation revealed Doyon and his girlfriend, Carol Stymiest, became embroiled in an argument at her home and he refused to leave.
The victim threw his shoes out the door, court heard, and he became enraged, grabbing and throwing her onto the couch.
Doyon then pinned her there by getting on top of her and raised his arm, holding his cane, as if to strike her, Stanford said. Though he didn’t, he said, it still constituted an assault
The prosecutor said as officers spoke to Stymiest about the incident, she revealed a prior offence Doyon committed as well. She reported that on May 12, they were arguing again, and the offender threatened to kill her cat.
Doyon was arrested and released on conditions, which included having no contact with Stymiest, Stanford said, but that same day, on Aug. 9, he was caught on video speaking with her.
“She came to me,” Doyon said during the sentencing hearing.
“It doesn’t matter,” said Judge Natalie LeBlanc, noting regardless of who instigated the contact, he was required to refrain from engaging.
Stanford said he and defence lawyer Charlotte Cowley were offering a joint recommendation on sentence: a total of 120 days in jail.
However, court heard that Doyon had already served 86 days in custody, and after the customary 1½-to-one remand credit was applied, that amounted to an equivalent of 127 days.
The prosecutor also requested the imposition of a probationary period to ensure Doyon gets the counselling he needs for his various issues.
Cowley said her client’s pre-sentence report shows he had a traumatic upbringing, having been subjected to physical and sexual abuse and raised in an environment rife with substance abuse.
“As early as nine years old, he started to use drugs himself,” she said.
“He has not done anything at this point to address his addictions or his trauma.”
In the pre-sentence report, Doyon reported his addictive behaviours go beyond illicit substances, court heard, as he told a probation officer he’s addicted to being with Stymiest.
“It’s very self-aware,” LeBlanc noted.
Doyon said his time on remand has led to the longest time he’s been sober, and he’s taking things one day at a time.
The judge said courts often seen and comment on the clear damage caused by past traumas passed down from generation to generation when dealing with Indigenous offenders, but Doyon’s case highlights the fact that such a pattern can easily be found among non-Indigenous offenders such as him.
“It’s clear here there’s been some intergenerational trauma,” LeBlanc said.
She accepted the joint recommendation, sentencing Doyon to 120 days in jail, which he’s already served.
LeBlanc also ordered a 12-month term of supervised probation, during which Doyon is to participate in any evaluation and treatment programs as directed by his probation officer, participate in counselling including programs for intimate-partner violence and anger management, and to be of good behaviour, especially toward Stymiest.
Don MacPherson can be contacted at ftonindependent@gmail.com.
FYI --> “Toxic Substance Disorder” has replaced the term “addict” now that we know the medical science behind it