Assaults Relating to Persons in Authority (Sentencing Cases)

From Criminal Law Notebook
This page was last substantively updated or reviewed January 2015. (Rev. # 80497)

Assault by persons in authority

See also: Assault (Sentencing Cases)
Case Name Prv. Crt. Sentence Summary
R v O'Mara, 2020 ABPC 201 (CanLII) AB PC suspended sentence The judge said it was "considering a sentence of imprisonment".
R v Sevigny, 2019 ABPC 81 (CanLII) AB PC $1,500 fine, probation of 12 months, and 50 hours of community service "transit peace officer used a harsh take-down maneuver, with no justification, against a jaywalking citizen, who suffered relatively minor injuries"... "[The complainant] was facing away from the accused [transit officer] when this maneuver was undertaken and offered no physical resistance. It appeared from the evidence that it took him by surprise. He did not break his fall in any manner and was easily taken down. He struck his head forcefully on the sidewalk, which produced a significant laceration on his forehead."
R v Baxter, 2018 ONCJ 608 (CanLII), per O'Donnell J ON PC conditional discharge "During an arrest, the officer, with no justification, pushed the arrestee face-first into and along a fence and then “grounded” the arrestee, causing facial cuts."
R v Bal, 2013 BCPC 21 (CanLII), per Fratkin J BC PC Suspended Sentence RCMP officer hit a detainee in the head and pushed his face into asphalt.
R v Lozada, 2013 ONCJ 770 (CanLII), per Perkins-McVey J ON PC CSO The offender was a caregiver for elderly. He assaulted a 90 year old patient.
R v Banks, 2012 NBQB 133 (CanLII), per McLellan J NB SC 60 days imprisonment prison guard assaults inmate
R v Thomas, 2012 ONSC 6653 (CanLII), per Code J ON SC 90 days
R v Ens and Moyse, 2011 MBQB 301 (CanLII), per Schulman J MB SC 21 days CSO
R v Lepine, 2010 ABPC 374 (CanLII), per Rosborough J AB PC 4 months CSO
R v Byrne, 2009 ONCA 134 (CanLII), per Feldman JA ON CA 90 days
R v Carrigan,
2009 CanLII 59434 (NL PC), [2009] NJ No 305 (P.C.), per Pike J
NL PC correctional officer assaults inmate causing bodily harm, public trust, discharge rejected
R v Gillan, 2009 BCPC 241 (CanLII), per Watchuk J BC PC 21 days CSO
R v Feeney et al, 2008 ONCA 756 (CanLII), per curiam ON CA 30 to 60 days
R v Ens, 2006 ABPC 164 (CanLII), per JDB McDonald J AB PC CSO The offender was a security guard
R v Langlois, 2004 BCPC 195 (CanLII), per Bagnall J BC PC 21 days CSO
R v Williams, 2004 ONCJ 261 (CanLII), per Agro J ON PC CSO The offender assaulted the victim while on duty as peace officer
R v Nixon, 1991 CanLII 905 (BC CA), per Cumming JA BC CA 9 months imprisonment
R v Bottrell, 1981 CanLII 352 (BC CA), per Laycraft JA BC CA 45 days
R v Cusack,
1978 CanLII 2283 (NS CA), , [1978] NSJ No 538, 41 CCC (2d) 289 (CA), per Hart JA
NS CA

Assaulting a Peace Officer

Spitting

Case Name Prv. Crt. Sentence Summary
R v Beaudin, 2012 ONCA 615 (CanLII), per curiam ON CA 12 months imprisonment long record
R v McLeod, 2009 SKPC 85 (CanLII), per Morin J SK PC 6 months imprisonment spitting in eye of officer
R v Charlette, 2010 SKCA 78 (CanLII), per Jackson JA SK CA 60 days spit in face; possible contagious disease
R v Wiersema, 2009 YKTC 6 (CanLII), per Cozens J YK SC spit on officer while bleeding; had communicable disease
R v Ali, 2006 ABQB 805 (CanLII), per Lee J AB SC 4 months imprisonment spit on officer; extensive record
R v Beuk, 2005 CarswellOnt 1674 (ONSC)(*no CanLII links) ON SC Suspended Sentence spat in face of breath-tech during impaired investigation
R v CEK,
2002 ABCA 295 (CanLII), [2002] A.J. No.1519, per Conrad JA
AB CA 12 months imprisonment while being arrested accused spat at officer--offender was 22 years old, previous record for assault
R v Joseph, [2001] OJ No 5726 (Ont.C.J.)(*no CanLII links) ON SC 4 months imprisonment spitting on officer; related to charges of uttering threats, breach of probation; record of violence; "uncontrollable" in community
R v , Ryan(*no CanLII links) ON 3 months imprisonment spitting at a police officer
R v Raycraft, [1995] OJ No 3958(*no CanLII links) ON 4 months imprisonment spat at peace officer during crowd control

Physical Violence

Case Name Prv. Crt. Sentence Summary
R v Baines, 2013 ABPC 92 (CanLII), per Van de Veen J AB PC 9 months imprisonment kicked officer in face causing bodily harm
R v Boden, 2012 BCPC 331 (CanLII), per Giardini J BC PC 3 months imprisonment also sentenced to sexual assault x 2--altercation while police arresting him, officers had guns drawn, he ran at them.
R v McArthur, 2010 SKCA 90 (CanLII), per Klebuc CJ SK CA 24 months imprisonment appeal from 12 month sentence; also involved assault causing and mischief against police officer
R v Bougerois, 2012 ABQB 255 (CanLII), per Park J AB SC discharge while intoxicated grabbed officer's groin, tried to kick him, no injuries sustained
R v Patton, 2011 ABCA 199 (CanLII), per curiam AB CA 48 months jail
R v Gardner,
2011 CanLII 4709 (NL PC), [2011] NJ No 41, per Gorman J
NL PC 1 months CSO tried to bite and pull hair of officer, no injuries--also charged with violence-related offences and mischief
R v Nehass, 2010 YKTC 64 (CanLII), per Ruddy J YK SC 6 months imprisonment offender was serving a sentence at the time--throwing urine, kicking and punching peace officers--
R v Markozashvili, 2010 ONCA 52 (CanLII), per curiam ON CA 90 days imprisonment offender convicted of dangerous driving causing bodily harm--assaulted officer while resisting arrest
R v Beauprie, 2009 ABQB 323 (CanLII), per Moen J AB SC 14 days imprisonment offender assaulted officer while resisting arrest, no injuries. Offender was 24 years old and initially arrested for mischief and intoxication. No prior record.
R v Jacobish, 2008 NLTD 148 (CanLII), per Goodridge J NL SC 120 days imprisonment officers were removing him from a house, hit one with a snowmobile belt and punched another

on.

R v Crothers, 2007 NBQB 237 (CanLII), per Cyr J NB SC 10 months imprisonment unprovoked assault on prison guard, with multiple hits
R v Chocolate, 2005 NWTSC 80 (CanLII), per Foisy J NWT SC 2 years less a day imprisonment
R v Legrandeur, 2006 BCSC 227 (CanLII), per Warren J BC SC Suspended Sentence pushed officer in moment of anger
R v Grossman, 2004 BCPC 236 (CanLII), per Challenger J BC PC 1 year imprisonment pepper sprayed police officer and his dog

Disarming Peace Officer and Related Offences

Case Name Prv. Crt. Sentence Summary
R v Brown, 2018 ABPC 10 (CanLII), per Van Harten J AB PC 2 years + probation The offender plead guilty to assaulting a jail guard. He was party to a group assault on a corrections officer that involved punches and kicks and beating him with his own handcuffs. The whole incident lasted 36 seconds.