An alcohol problem and violence toward others are two factors that will send Loagen Telayne Prettyshield to jail for the next 24 months and could encourage him to turn around his life.
These factors came into play during an encounter Prettyshield, 26, had at a residence on Oct. 1, 2021. He was drinking at the apartment of a close female friend and had on him a cigarette lighter and imitation handgun. A male friend of the woman walked in sometime later, which prompted Prettyshield to order the man to stay away from her.
“Mr. Prettyshield threatened (the man) by pushing him against a fridge (and) showing him the imitation gun and saying he would kill him if he didn’t leave,” said Crown prosecutor Stephen Yusuff while reading the facts during Prettyshield’s sentencing hearing in Moose Jaw Provincial Court recently.
Both men left but came back later that night to continue drinking. At one point, Prettyshield used his lighter to burn the man’s arm, while he also took the man’s phone by force, Yusuff continued. However, the woman recovered the phone and returned it to her friend.
“Later in the night, Mr. Prettyshield apologized to (the man) when he realized how scared he had made (the man),” the Crown prosecutor added.
Another incident occurred on May 6, 2021, when Prettyshield went to the hospital and became agitated, Yusuff said. Nurses called police to keep the peace, and due to his agitation, he threatened one officer and head-butted another in the chest.
Officers took the man to the police station, and before he was put in a cell, Prettyshield kicked at one of the officers but did not make contact.
Police arrested Prettyshield five other times throughout 2021, mostly for outstanding warrants, Yusuff added. During those encounters, police found him intoxicated based on how he smelled and looked. He also admitted to drinking during those times.
During Prettyshield’s sentencing, he pleaded guilty to 11 of 37 charges. Those 11 charges included assaulting a peace officer, uttering a threat to cause death, assault with a weapon, using force during a robbery, two breaches of probation, four failures to comply with an appearance notice and breaching an undertaking.
The Crown stayed the remaining charges.
As part of a joint submission, Prettyshield will spend 24 months in a provincial jail, must forfeit his cigarette lighter and imitation handgun, cannot own firearms for 10 years and must give a DNA sample.
Since he spent 203 actual days on remand before his sentencing, the court credited him with 305 days served. This means he will spend 415 days in jail.
This joint sentence is possible because Prettyshield took responsibility for his actions and generally co-operated with police, Legal Aid lawyer Suzanne Jeanson said. Meanwhile, a Gladue report — which considers his Aboriginal upbringing — is helpful and provides insight into his life.
Prettyshield’s parents were residential school survivors, which led to addictions and violence in his home, while the homicide of two friends also deeply impacted him, she continued. However, he has accessed community support and is motivated by his daughter to improve his life.
Jeanson added that his recovery plan after jail is to acquire a job, upgrade his education, take addictions treatment and move on with life.
Judge Brian Hendrickson agreed to waive the victim surcharge, while he also agreed to recommend Prettyshield for a healing lodge near La Ronge. If accepted, the Moose Javian would spend part of his jail time at the lodge practising his Aboriginal culture as part of his recovery.
