Christopher Charrier got angry when he was reminded by his former partner the court had ordered him to stay away from his Sarnia home.
Christopher Charrier got angry when he was reminded by his former partner the court had ordered him to stay away from his Sarnia home.
Before leaving, the former US soldier took out his anger on his own motorcycle by striking the gas tank of his 2002 Kawasaki Ninja with an axe.
Then he made a statement.
“He advised (her) that he would, ‘Put an ax through the heads of police when they arrived,’” assistant Crown attorney David Nicol said this week in a Sarnia courtroom while reading an agreed statement of facts.
Charrier, 37, was sentenced to seven-plus months in jail for a slew of convictions, including two months for the May 18 incident where he uttered a threat to cause death or bodily harm.
Most of the convictions, including assault, stealing a vehicle and five counts of breaching release orders, took place over a six-month span last year and were linked to his former partner. The woman filed a statement on how the series of incidents affected her and, while it wasn’t heard in court, the judge did read it.
“The impact of Mr. Charrier’s actions here on her have been significant, to say the least,” Justice Mark Poland said.
But the judge also listened as Charrier apologized to the woman and the community while saying he regrets his actions.
“I take that expression of remorse as sincere,” Poland said.
Charrier did not plead guilty to any drug charges, but defense lawyer James Guggisberg said his client has post-traumatic stress disorder, which he believes led to drug use.
“The PTSD is related in some way to his time in the US military, where he was part of the 75th Rangers (Regiment), I understand, stationed at Fort Gillem in Georgia,” Guggisberg said.
This helps explain why a person with no prior criminal record in Canada would suddenly pick up a long list of charges over multiple incidents in just six months, Guggisberg said. Charrier, now a concrete worker, also told the judge he has mental-health issues stemming from his childhood.
“To Mr. Charrier’s credit, he has accomplished more while in custody than I have ever seen of another client,” said Guggisberg, a veteran Sarnia-area criminal defense lawyer.
Guggisberg noted some programs haven’t been available at the local jail in recent years, but added his client, who has been there since September, has studied topics such as healthy relationships, anger management and substance abuse.
“I believe he ought to be recognized for not sitting idly by while detained, but rather trying to make the best of his circumstances, which he hopes to do upon his eventual release,” he said.
Poland called the list of programs he completed quite substantial, “and really quite impressive.”
While talking directly to Charrier, the judge compared the work to adding tools to a toolbox.
“Hopefully you can get your life turned around,” he said. “Good luck to you.”
But Poland also cautioned him not to contact the woman while he’s in jail and to stay away from her while he’s on probation for three years after his release.
“It’s very clear she doesn’t want anything to do with you,” he said.
Charrier had about six-and-a-half months in pre-sentence custody credit, leaving just shy of one month to serve. Multiple other charges were dropped.