Edmonton resident Yonis Asefaw has been sentenced to 4.5 years in jail after pleading guilty to several offences that occurred in Moose Jaw in May.
Asefaw, 25, pleaded guilty in Moose Jaw provincial court recently to careless use of a firearm, obstructing a peace officer by giving a false name, and several charges for drug possession.
The Alberta native received two years in jail for the firearm charge, six months consecutive for obstructing a peace officer, and two years consecutive for the drug charges.
As part of the obstruction charge, he was given 117 days’ credit for time in remand, which means he will serve 63 days for the charge. Meanwhile, the sentence for the drug charges will also run concurrently — at the same time — with each charge.
Based on credit given for remand, Asefaw will likely spend 1,580 days in jail versus 1,642.5 days.
Moose Jaw police were called to a residence on the 800 block of Fourth Avenue Northeast on May 7. They learned that an altercation had occurred between two males, according to previously released information.
The male victim came home to find Asefaw inside the living room since another occupant had invited him in the home, Crown prosecutor Rob Parker told the Express. The male ordered the Edmontonian to get out of the home before pushing Asefaw onto the couch and started beating him up.
With the homeowner on his back, Asefaw pulled out a loaded handgun, pointed it above his head, and fired a shot into the ceiling as a warning that he had a gun and wanted him to get off, Parker continued. While the gun was in “close proximity” to the victim’s head, it was not pointed directly at his head, nor did Asefaw have the intent to point it at the victim’s skull.
The bullet that Asefaw fired hit the ceiling and exited the house.
While arresting Asefaw — he was initially charged with attempted murder— police found the loaded handgun and 16 ounces of cocaine with a street value of roughly $45,000. He also had roughly $6,000 in cash on him.
Moose Jaw provincial court next meets on Aug. 5.
The Provincial Court section holds articles that have been written without prejudice with the information that has been presented in a public court of appeal available to the media and public.
