Home page

Text size

E-mail this page

SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - Former lawyer Charles McGee was indicted on a charge of possessing child pornography and breaching his parole conditions on Tuesday.

Crown prosecutor Christine Gagnon said the Crown could have chosen to proceed summarily - involving a lesser sentence on conviction - but decided to proceed by way of indictment. McGee's matter is next scheduled for Feb. 10 when he will choose to be tried by judge and jury or by judge alone. He will also select whether his case will be heard in territorial or supreme court.

McGee did not appear in court and was represented by legal counsel.

In October 2006 McGee was sentenced to nine months in jail for sexually abusing a young girl in the early 1980s. He also served a conditional sentence from 2004 to 2006 for molesting two girls in 1974 after a conviction in 2004.

Confusion over attempt to get lawyer

There was some confusion in territorial court on Tuesday in the case of a man currently in custody and trying to get legal representation.

The accused is facing three charges of theft and two charges of breaking and entering. When Judge Robert Gorin asked whether he had obtained a lawyer, the accused said someone was supposed to have contacted him and never did. Defence lawyer Pat Cashman said he had previously requested the Crown send the man's disclosure to defence lawyer Tom Boyd. Crown prosecutor Shannon Smallwood said disclosure had been sent to Boyd but he said he did not recall receiving it.

"Can we just do this after the holidays?" said the accused, adding he wanted time to speak with legal counsel and find out what is happening with his case.

"He has a point," said Gorin. "I would ask counsel to attend to this immediately."

The case was adjourned to Jan. 6.

Judge orders man to upgrade education

A man who pleaded guilty to numerous charges including possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose, breach of court conditions and failure to appear in court was given five months in jail on Tuesday. Thomas Camsell will serve only one month of his five-month sentence, given time already spent in custody prior to trial.

"He has shown some form of remorse and wishes to mend his ways," said Judge J.J. Desjardins. "He has to learn to live a different lifestyle without drugs and alcohol."

In addition to the jail time, Camsell was fined $600, given one year of probation and a three-year firearms prohibition.

He was also told to "make all efforts to obtain and keep employment," and "must upgrade his education."