INUVIK - The town's only veterinarian will have to leave Inuvik after being handed an 18-month suspended sentence in Inuvik territorial court on Tuesday afternoon.

Peter Krizan leaves Inuvik territorial court on Tuesday afternoon. He has been ordered to leave the community as part of his suspended sentence. - Andrew Rankin/NNSL photo

The sentence stems from Krizan breaking a court order on April 1, 2010. As a result the judge is forcing him to move to another city or town.

Two charges of uttering threats and an assault charge were dropped.

Krizan, who pleaded guilty to violating court conditions, appeared in court looking tired and his sentence was read aloud to him by the court secretary in a nearly empty courtroom.

Before leaving the courtroom in handcuffs, Krizan told Inuvik Drum he was worried about the possibility of having to move and he planned to challenge the ruling.

He has served as Inuvik's veterinarian for the past year and a half.

As part of his sentence, Krizan must adhere to several conditions, which include taking drug and alcohol treatment, consulting a probation officer and avoiding unsupervised contact with a particular individual in Inuvik.

Krizan was arrested on Oct. 26 after a four-and-a-half hour standoff with Inuvik RCMP. At the time police were responding to a violence complaint.

He is still facing several charges relating to that incident, including four counts of failing to comply with a court order, dangerous operation of a motor vehicle and obstruction of justice.

He is due to appear in court again in March.

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