Dustin Denley caught a break, but also got a warning.
Article content
The 40-year-old Sarnia man faced a month in jail for breaching probation – his 22nd conviction for violating a court order. Instead he was given a suspended sentence and more probation due to a run of sobriety, but Justice Rick Libman also bailed him if he broke the rules again he’ll be going behind bars for much longer than a month.
“You’re looking at a sentence that may be up to half a year,” he said. “There’s going to be a very severe penalty if you breach my order.”
Denley, who was arrested but later cleared of charges linked to an attack in April on Kathleen Avenue involving a baseball bat and a claw hammer, recently pleaded guilty to the probation breach. Defense lawyer James Guggisberg said his longtime client, who has been very unsuccessful in the criminal world and was using fentanyl, has been sober since May 2023 with the help of the injectable Sublocade.
Article content
“Mr. Denley looks like the much healthier cousin of the man that I’ve known since he was a teenager,” he said. “This individual has a promising future, if he can stick to his convictions.”
Due to this turnaround, Guggisberg asked for the suspended sentence as opposed to 30 days in jail the Crown called for. Libman said the prosecutor’s position was lenient based on his record.
Along with his list of court order breaches, Denley was jailed five months in 2022 for assault, forcible confinement, and assaulting police.
“But I know the individual who commits these offenses is not the one that I’m talking to in court today, but the one who is not strong enough to prevent drugs from taking over,” the judge said.
Before giving him the suspended sentence, Libman asked Denley how he’ll stay out of trouble. He replied he’ll keep doing what he’s been doing for the past 18 months years — staying away from bad influences and spending more time with his family.
The judge bailed him not to forget about his probation appointments.
The Sarnia woman who was charged with assault with a weapon and assault causing bodily harm in the April incident on Kathleen Avenue returns to court Jan. 29.
Share this article in your social network