Yellowknife (Sep 27/06) - A 22-year-old woman who attacked another woman with a hammer was given a one-year conditional sentence to be served in Yellowknife.

Joelle Powder was convicted of assault with a weapon, uttering death threats, breaching an undertaking, obstructing justice, and possessing stolen property in territorial court Sept. 20.

For the first eight months, Powder will be under house arrest and checking in with her conditional sentence supervisor daily.

She will not be able to leave her mother's residence except for two, three-hour periods, unless she is doing her 200 hours of community service, attending counselling, visiting her supervisor, or attending school, work or job training.

In the four months after, Powder will have to abide by a curfew from 9 p.m. to 7 a.m. unless given express written permission. She is also prohibited from visiting bars or 50th Street.

Territorial court judge Bernadette Schmaltz said she considered a conditional sentence because she believed Powder would have a better chance to stay clean.

"I have serious concerns about her addictions," said Schmaltz.

Powder's mother, Wanda, was in court and said she is optimistic her daughter will be able to stay clean.

"I'm very confident with having her at home," she said.

In a 10-page pre-sentence report, Powder admits to doing a wide range of drugs, primarily crack-cocaine. She said she was high or suffering withdrawal in connection to almost all the crimes she committed.

Powder was originally charged with 16 offenses dating from May to September 2005 including more property and assault charges. Steven Hinkley, the Crown prosecutor, dropped them after she pleaded guilty to the five charges listed last week.

Hinkley told the court that Powder approached a woman with her hands behind her back on May 21 in front of Ptarmigan Apartments and accused her of using Powder's name.

When the woman turned to leave, Powder hit her on the right side of her head with a hammer.

The RCMP attended the scene and found the woman "bleeding profusely" from a wound on her head.

"Her shirt was covered in blood," said Hinkley.

The victim suffered no permanent damage, he said.

On June 23, Powder received a call from the victim on a friend's cell phone.

"She said she would kill (the victim) if she didn't drop the charges," said Hinkley, accounting for the breach in undertaking and uttering death threats convictions.

Earlier, Powder was arrested in connection to a breaking and entering complaint on 50th Street around 1:15 a.m.

Police found credit cards, a vehicle's registration and insurance papers, and a calling card in other people's names.

It was later determined these items were stolen, said Hinkley.

When arrested, Powder gave police a false name.

She was convicted of failing to appear in court for missing her first appearance July 19. Powder declined to comment in court.

In the pre-sentence report, she said she takes responsibility for her actions and is looking to get her life back together.Powder said she wanted to live in Yellowknife to help take care of her five-year-old son.