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SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - A man facing 16 criminal charges appeared in Yellowknife Territorial court on Tuesday. Morgan Duncan pleaded guilty to a number of charges including breaching the terms of his release from jail and assault with a weapon stemming from a Sept. 12 incident.

"He has many charges before the court," said Judge Brian Bruser.

Bruser read the allegations from the Sept. 12 charges, which included possessing and using bear spray on another man. The Crown had alleged Duncan had also been in possession of a sword, to which Duncan replied from the prisoner's dock, "I never had no sword."

That charge was dropped by the Crown after Duncan entered pleas to other charges. Duncan is scheduled to be sentenced on Nov. 4.

Man fined $1,200

A Yellowknife man who was intoxicated and drove with a blood alcohol level nearly three times over the legal limit was given a $1,200 fine.

The 32-year-old man was caught by RCMP driving erratically on Old Airport Road at around 6:35 a.m. on Aug. 24. Police stopped the man and found he had a large amount of beer and "an open, partially full bottle of vodka," Crown prosecutor Shelley Tkatch said.

Reading aloud the facts of the impaired driving charge, Tkatch said the man also had slurred speech and had trouble walking that August day. He was arrested and put in a police vehicle. The man did not remember the incident later in the day and police had to explain to him again what had happened. The man, who does not have a criminal record, only spoke to say he was "deeply sorry."

"That's not good," said Bruser of the fact the man was nearly three times over the legal limit.

The man was also banned from driving for a year.

Prison escapee a no show

A Yellowknife court gave an escaped prisoner a chance to show up her scheduled court appearance on Tuesday.

Toni-Lynn Buggins, 27, was due to show up for her court to face five criminal charges including possession of property obtained through crime and failing to attend court.

"Miss Buggins is currently at large ... I'm not anticipating her showing up," said Crown prosecutor Shelley Tkatch.

"Let's remember at 1:30 p.m. to page her. Stranger things have happened," said judge Brian Bruser.

RCMP reported Buggins, along with Sheila Jewell, escaped the women's prison in Fort Smith roughly two weeks ago. Jewell, who was charged with setting a fire that destroyed eight townhouses at Bison Estates in February, was located and arrested in Grande Prairie, Alta. on Saturday while Buggins remains at large.

Buggins was paged during the afternoon proceedings and failed to appear.

"I guess she's still enjoying her unauthorized freedom," said Bruser.