SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - Henry Zoe, former cabinet minister and MLA for North Slave - now Monfwi - has pled not guilty to sexual assault.

Defence lawyer Carolyn Wawzonek entered the plea in territorial court Tuesday on Zoe's behalf as he was not present for the hearing.

"I'm asking for two weeks to find a trial date," said Wawzonek.

Judge Robert Gorin adjourned the matter to June 16 to set a date for trial.

Zoe has two previous convictions for assault and one for resisting arrest.

Man found sleeping in car while drunk

A Yellowknife man who was found sleeping in a parked car pleaded guilty to care and control of a motor vehicle while drunk on Tuesday.

RCMP found a 21-year-old man asleep in a vehicle in a downtown parking lot at approximately 2 a.m. on Oct. 10, 2008, according to Crown prosecutor Brent Lepage.

Police "smelled liquor on his breath" said Lepage. The man gave a breath sample and was found to be intoxicated. He was put in a RCMP detachment cells until he was sober. Defence lawyer Jay Bran said his client "was simply retrieving items from the vehicle" and fell asleep waiting for his designated driver. The man, who has no previous criminal record, also pleaded guilty to failing to appear in court on Jan. 20.

"You really have yourself to blame for the late completion of this matter," said Judge Brian Bruser.

The man was fined a total of $1,400 and banned from driving for one year.

Guilty plea entered without lawyer

A man entered a guilty plea on Tuesday without legal representation, despite urging from Judge Robert Gorin to first speak with a lawyer.

The man pleaded guilty to two charges, one for failure to appear in court and one breach of probation. The Crown prosecutor withdrew the failure to appear charge after the guilty plea was given for breach of probation.

"I need a break from the streets," the man said. "I'm going to jail."

Gorin advised the man he could face up to 18 months in jail or a $2,000 fine.

He will be sentenced on June 9.