PEHDZEH KI/WRIGLEY - The former chief of the Pehdzeh Ki First Nation has been found guilty of assault and uttering threats in relation to an incident that occurred last summer in Wrigley.

Darcy Eric Moses, 39, was sentenced in territorial court in Fort Simpson on Feb. 9 to serve 45 days concurrently for both one count of assault and one count of uttering threats. The charges are the result of an incident that took place on July 19, 2009 while Moses was the Wrigley chief. The altercation was over a set of keys for the gas pumps in the community.

According to the facts read in by Crown prosecutor Duane Praught, the victim was fueling his employer's jet boat at the Wrigley gas bar at approximately 11:30 a.m. when Moses pulled up in his truck and began yelling obscenities at him.

Moses ran at the victim and tried to hit his face three times with his fists. The victim blocked the blows using his forearms. Moses also attempted to kick him but missed. While striking the victim Moses continued yelling obscenities and threats.

"I'll kill you if you don't leave town. Give me those keys," Praught reported Moses as saying.

Moses was referring to a set of keys the victim had to the fuel station as a result of the work he was doing in the community. The man tried to reason with Moses who continued to yell and be aggressive.

The man then got into his truck and began driving to his residence, located near the community's landfill site, while towing the jet boat. Moses followed closely behind in his truck. During the drive the jet boat fell off its hitch and was being dragged but the victim didn't want to stop because Moses was following, said Praught.

Moses followed the man right into his driveway where he got out of the truck and yelled more obscenities while demanding the keys and threatening to kill the victim. The victim's girlfriend, who was in the house, heard the yelling and watched the exchange from a window.

To placate Moses the man asked, "If I give you the keys will you go away," said Praught.

Moses agreed, Praught reported.

Moses left after Praught had given him the keys the keys.

Defense lawyer Michael Hansen asked for a heavy fine of $2,500 combined with a suspended sentence or one day in custody and six months probation for the offences. Deputy judge J.R. McIntosh chose to sentence Moses to 45 days to be served concurrently for each of the two counts.

Moses had stepped down from his role as chief during the summer as a result of the incident, and Albert Moses was made acting chief, Lennie said.