Wellness court prompts 'complete turnaround'
'You've accomplished more than anything I could have accomplished by sending you to jail,' says judge
Evan Kiyoshi French
Northern News Services
Monday, March 14, 2016
SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
A man who pleaded guilty to uttering threats to police a year-and-a-half ago walked out of a Yellowknife courtroom completely discharged last week.
Travis James Thomas opted to have his matter dealt with in the wellness court program - which gives specific people addictions and mental-health treatment as an alternative to jail - in Feb. 2015, and before walking out last Thursday, he thanked the court for giving him a chance to change his ways.
"Today is the day," Thomas told the court, when asked by Territorial Court Judge Robert Gorin if he'd like to speak.
"I'll walk that silver path."
Crown prosecutor Marc Lecorre said Thomas admitted he suffers from alcoholism and went through the necessary steps to change his life.
"Mr. Thomas is no longer the same person he was," said Lecorre. "He's shown a complete turnaround by participating in the wellness program and completing it with flying colours."
The first sitting of wellness court took place on Oct. 2, 2014. The program was modeled after a successful similar program in the Yukon giving people who plead guilty to their offences the chance to apply to have their cases heard in wellness court. If accepted, they receive treatment for addictions and mental health issues and face the likelihood of a lighter sentence once completed.
Lecorre told court how on Sept. 13, 2014, police were dispatched to track down Thomas, after he had an argument with his step-father and mother, while under the influence of alcohol.
He said police found Thomas riding a blue bicycle outside the Gold Range Bar sometime after 10:30 a.m.
While on the way to the detachment, said Lecorre, Thomas told the two officers in the cruiser with him that "he knew everyone in this town" and that he was going to "find their wives and their kids and kill them."
Thomas continued to make threats back at the detachment, said Lecorre, telling four officers he was "going to come to all your houses and cut your ... throats."
Lecorre said Thomas has a criminal record, with his most recent charge dating back to 2010.
After a year in the program, Lecorre said, Thomas has attended countless counselling sessions in and out of the city, including at the Tree of Peace, attended weekly alcoholics anonymous meetings, psychologist sessions addressing childhood traumas and has attended treatment for drug and alcohol addiction at Fresh Start Recovery Centre in Calgary.
Lecorre said before attending the centre in Calgary, Thomas admits he had one relapse, consuming booze and smoking marijuana to relieve stress in preparation for his departure. Lecorre commended Thomas on his honesty and asked the judge to grant him the "maximum weight of credit the court deems appropriate."
Thomas's attorney, Tracy Bock, said his client has told him the hard work has been worth it.
"He said he's proud of his achievement," said Bock.
Bock said since going into the program, Thomas has earned his driver's licence, has learned coping mechanisms to stay away from alcohol and is considering attending a heavy-equipment operator course in June, with the goal of eventually landing a job at a mine.
"Certainly, Mr. Thomas has expanded his tool box," said Bock.
Outside the court room, Thomas said he lost four members of his family to a house fire when he was five years old, and lost his best friend to alcohol poisoning.
Gorin said he understands Thomas suffered the loss of loved ones as a child and credited him for staying optimistic.
"You suffered challenges, people close to you died," he said. "You've done much. Good for you. I'm very pleased."
He said Thomas has demonstrated he can be trusted when he admitted to relapsing before heading to treatment.
"There was a slip but I think you earned that," said Gorin. "You've accomplished more than anything I could have accomplished by sending you to jail."
Gorin granted Thomas a complete discharge. Lydia Bardak, executive director of the John Howard Society in Yellowknife, said Gorin arranged to have a room full of newer wellness court participants present so they could witness the decision read for Thomas.
"Wasn't that neat? The judge arranged it so all of the others would be in the room," she said.
After hearing the decision, Thomas said he knows he's going to stay on the straight and narrow.
"I know I'm going to keep going," he said.
