A Brantford drug dealer blamed his woes on a “toxic” relationship with a woman.
Joseph Isaac LaForme, 37, pleaded guilty to several offenses from 2021 and 2022, including pointing a 12-inch machete at his partner and saying, “I’m going to kill you.”
LaForme admitted to Justice Robert Gee that he maintained contact with the woman contrary to a court order.
“The relationship I have with (her) is quite toxic,” LaForme told court.
“She invites me back and, because I do love her in some twisted way, I end up going back to her, mainly due to the drugs.
“She needs drugs. I’m a drug dealer. I need cash. It works … not really, but in my twisted mind, it works.”
LaForme pleaded guilty to threatening death, five counts of breaking release orders or probation and assaulting a police officer during his arrest in March.
On that occasion, LaForme erupted in anger while in the video booth of the Brantford police station, He destroyed a camera, yelling, “I don’t want to go back to jail!”
He spat on his restraints, trying to get them off and yelled at an officer to get his hands off him.
LaForme dug his fingernails into the officer’s throat, leaving marks.
“In 2019, you told me you were a changed man,” said the judge.
“You said you had changed medications and were back on the right path and didn’t want your kids to see you like that again.”
LaForme said the death of a grandchild sent him into a violent downward spiral.
“That changes a man.”
LaForme said he is also a frequent target of police.
“On what grounds? Because I look like a suspect. Because I ‘look like someone’ they’re looking for. Where’s my respect?”
Gee agreed with the Crown and defense that probation was of no benefit for LaForme.
“Jail’s not doing you any good either,” said the judge.
“But we’re getting to the point where we’re going to have to keep you in jail … or we’re just going to get more behavior like this.”
LaForme was ordered to stay away from his sometimes partner and the police officer he injured.
He was credited with already serving the equivalent of 276 days and ordered back to jail for a further 454 days, to equal a sentence of two years less a day.
Nine days after his sentencing, LaForme was back in court before Justice Colette Good to face five driving charges from June 5, 2020.
Most of the charges were withdrawn after LaForme pleaded guilty to dangerous operation of a vehicle.
He was sentenced to an additional 10 months in jail.
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