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Lethbridge man gets time served for assault causing bodily harm

Dec 12, 2017 | 10:15 AM

LETHBRIDGE – A Lethbridge man has been given time served, after pleading guilty to two counts of assault causing bodily harm.

Joel McKenzie Guzman admitted to the charges at the beginning of his preliminary hearing, which would have determined if there was enough evidence for a trial.

Lethbridge Police responded to reports of a serious assault along Berkeley Place West on the evening of Apr. 22, 2017, and found two victims who were transported to hospital with what were believed to be life threatening injuries. Both were suffering from a number of injuries, including multiple stab wounds to their chests. One of the victims had to be airlifted to Calgary for treatment of severe facial injuries.

Guzman told police that he had been walking on the west side as part of a group of six, when two men who were part of a rival gang started yelling at them from a balcony and flashing gang symbols. A confrontation broke out, during which Guzman admitted that he struck both victims numerous times, and stomped on the head, chest and torso of one of them after they fell to the ground. He added that he did not have any part in stabbing either victim.

The Crown and defence delivered a joint submission to the court – which was later accepted by the judge – recommending 353 days in jail. With credit for 235 days already spent in pre-trial custody, and with an extra credit of 1.5 for each day served, the Crown noted that the sentence would already be finished.

An additional two counts of assault with a weapon were also withdrawn by the Crown.

It was also noted that the two others charged in connection with the incident, Dustin Courtney Okimaw and Angela Dawn Spearchief, have already been sentenced, after entering guilty pleas back in June. Okimaw received 420 days in custody, while Spearchief was given 300 days.