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SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
A Yellowknife man accused of being involved in the robbery of two Yellowknife cab drivers last December was sentenced Tuesday on a number of unrelated charges related to three separate incidents.

On Aug. 24, 2011, Brent Michael, 20, caused damage to a truck parked on a Yellowknife street and as a result was charged with one count of mischief and one count of breaching probation.

After he pleaded guilty to both charges, territorial Judge Bernadette Schmaltz sentenced Michael to one month in jail for each count. He was also ordered to pay $1,313.56 in damages caused to the truck.

"He was angry, and he punched a vehicle in the street and he caused that amount of damage to the vehicle," said Crown prosecutor Alex Godfrey.

Michael also pleaded guilty to failing to appear in court on Nov. 3, 2011, for which he received 15 days behind bars.

In addition, on Sept. 11, 2011, Michael stole a bicycle. The father of the boy whose bicycle was stolen "saw him taking it and chased him down," said Godfrey.

Michael dropped the bicycle as he fled from the father. About an hour later, the father tracked Michael down on the Frame Lake Trail, at which time he was arrested by police. Michael pleaded guilty to one count of theft and was ordered to pay a $700 fine.

Schmaltz also ordered Michael to additional jail time as a result of multiple outstanding fines, said Godfrey.

Now that all other outstanding matters against Michael have been dealt with, the Crown will proceed with its case against Michael and co-accused Sean Qitsualik regarding the alleged robbery of two Yellowknife cab drivers during the early morning of Dec. 3, 2011, said Godfrey.

This case is scheduled for a preliminary inquiry on June 27 and 28 to determine whether it will go to trial.

Man accused in drug bust denied bail

A 33-year-old Yellowknife man charged with drug offences appeared in court on March 2 to seek bail, but was denied.

Alexander Smith faces two counts of possession of drugs with intent to traffic - specifically cocaine and marijuana - along with impaired driving and possession of marijuana and cocaine charges.

Territorial court Judge Christine Gagnon granted a previous request from Crown prosecutor Glen Boyd for a publication ban on the case.

"We felt that in this case a publication ban was warranted," Boyd told Yellowknifer.

Smith is scheduled to appear before the territorial court next on March 13.

Deputy fire chief theft, fraud case underway in Vancouver

Initial court proceeding got underway in Vancouver this week regarding theft and fraud charges against a Yellowknife deputy fire chief.

Jason Davidson, deputy fire chief of training for the Yellowknife Fire Division, has been charged with one count of theft over $5,000, one count of fraud over $5,000 and one count of using a forged document. These charges stem from accusations that he misappropriated more than $150,000 while serving as treasurer of the Vancouver Fire Fighters Concert and Marching Band Society between February 2003 and October 2008.

Davidson's case was supposed to arise this past Monday, March 5, in British Columbia provincial court. It came up on the docket again on Wednesday, said Neil MacKenzie, spokesperson for the Vancouver Crown prosecutor's office.

MacKenzie was unsure as of press time whether Davidson had made an appearance in person in provincial court.

The matter is scheduled to appear in court next on March 23, said MacKenzie.

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