This week, Peter Pawlowski got up from a chair inside a Sarnia courtroom and was ushered by security to the Sarnia Jail to start serving a two-month sentence for impaired driving.
Pawlowski, 48, pleaded guilty to the charge on March 1, but his sentencing was adjourned to Monday. With multiple related convictions already on his record, assistant Crown attorney Josie Baier asked a Sarnia judge for a 120-day jail sentence.
Pawlowski, who represented himself in court, said 120 days is excessive and pointed out it will cost him his job.
“But ultimately I did make a mistake and there’s got to be consequences,” he added. “Whatever your honor sees fit I’ll have to live with it.”
Justice Krista Lynn Leszczynski said house arrest was an option, but added she wasn’t satisfied it was enough of a punishment due to what has become a pattern of repeated behavior.
“A custodial sentence is necessary,” she said, but she cut the suggested sentence in half to 60 days.
While arguing in favor of four months, Baier pointed out the crash – he punctured the tires and smashed a mirror of his silver Subaru near Exmouth Street and Melrose Avenue on Aug. 28, 2021 – was near multiple civilians.
“He was seen leaving his motor vehicle carrying a beer in one hand a small bag of chips in the other,” she added.
Leszczynski said the crash and carrying a beer were factors in the jail time she imposed, along with his breath readings.
“Three times the legal limit, which is very aggravating,” Leszczynski said.
Pawlowski appeared heavily intoxicated and his breath smelled like alcohol when Sarnia police found him stumbling up a William Avenue driveway that Saturday night.
His sentencing was adjourned twice to get a pre-sentence report. The document said he denied having any issues with alcohol despite the prior convictions and losing a job due to drinking. The judge disagreed.
“Indicates to me, Mr. Pawlowski, that you do have an issue with your use of alcohol that needs to be addressed,” Leszczynski said.
She added a one-year probation order to help him address those issues along with a three-year driving ban.
A second charge was withdrawn.