SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - A Hay River man who pleaded guilty to making numerous threats of violence was sentenced to eight months in jail in Yellowknife on Thursday.

Patrick Larocque, 37, admitted in territorial court to threatening various people in a number of incidents dating from April to June. In one instance, Larocque threatened a man who owed him money, saying he was going to go get his handgun and kill the man.

The court heard that, while in detention at the Hay River RCMP detachment in April, Larocque broke a light fixture in his cell and chewed on the plastic pieces of it. He also told an officer trying to move him to another cell, "I'll break your fingers if you touch me again," as well as making indirect threats towards the officers' families.

He also caused significant damage to his cell door.

Larocque pleaded guilty to four charges of death threats, two counts of mischief and one count of robbery. In exchange for his guilty pleas, eight other charges were dropped.

Larocque's lawyer, Tracy Bock, told the court his client came from an abusive home with an alcoholic father. Bock said that although his client had a history of crack cocaine addiction, Larocque was taking Alcoholics Anonymous courses in jail and was trying to turn his life around following his arrest.

"I want to apologize to everyone (in court) for wasting their time," Larocque said. "These are the consequences I have to face. I just want to get on with my life."

Judge Christine Gagnon imposed the jail time along with a probation order requiring, in part, that Larocque not possess firearms for three years or have contact with any of the people he threatened. He was also ordered to submit his DNA.

"I think you need to come to terms with what is eating you and what is surfacing in you," Gagnon told Larocque. "You can live in harmony with yourself and with others around you."

Larocque was granted a one-for-one credit for time served awaiting his trial, amounting to 80 days.

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