SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - The case of a Yellowknife woman facing 105 charges relating to theft and forgery was in territorial court on Tuesday.

Dionne Bowden, 35, is charged with theft, scores of forgery charges, and charges of knowingly using forged documents to the detriment of her employer, Ollerhead and Associates Ltd., a local surveying and engineering firm.

"The total amount alleged is $181,000, approximately," Crown prosecutor Mathieu St. Germain told Yellowknifer.

Bowden is accused of forging cheques and stealing money from Aug. 5, 2008, to Dec. 29, 2009.

"The fact that the allegations are fraud against the employer, that's a major aggravating feature right there," said St. Germain.

In court, defence lawyer Dan Rideout asked for an adjournment of the case for more time to review all the information.

Judge Brian Bruser asked Rideout if the defence wished to waive a formal reading of the 105 charges, which Rideout did.

"It could take up to an hour if we did read it," said Bruser.

Bowden's case will be back before the court on Nov. 2.

Locked up for tardiness

An 18-year-old man spent a few hours in lock-up at the Yellowknife courthouse on Tuesday after he failed to show up on time to face charges of mischief and drug trafficking.

The man's name was called in the early morning and when he did not appear, Judge Brian Bruser issued an arrest warrant. During the mid-morning court break, around 11 a.m., the man appeared and spoke to his lawyer, Abdul Khan. The case was brought back before the court after the break.

"You're not going to come late and jump the line-up in front of people who've been here since 9:30 (a.m.)," Bruser told the man. "There was a warrant issued for your arrest. You're in custody now."

The man was taken to the courthouse holding cells until the afternoon. At around 3 p.m. he was brought back up, pleaded not guilty to mischief and trafficking, and was released. He will be back in court on Oct. 19.

Blame game doesn't pay off

A 46-year-old man was fined $1,500 for refusing to provide a breath sample to RCMP. He was arrested at his girlfriend's home because someone told the police an intoxicated drunk man had been seen driving a car registered to her, and hit a vehicle in the downtown liquor store parking lot and then left the scene.

When the police arrived at the home, the girlfriend answered the door and summoned the man, who was having a shower.

Crown prosecutor Mathieu St. Germain said the offender immediately told police "he didn't do it, he wasn't driving, he wasn't there" and repeatedly pointed at his girlfriend. He showed signs of intoxication, and was arrested and taken to the RCMP detachment, where he refused to provide a breath sample.

Defence lawyer Stephen Shabala told the court on Tuesday the man said he was involved in an argument with an acquaintance earlier that day, and the offender claimed his acquaintance called in the complaint merely to get him in trouble.

St. Germain said the Crown had no intention of trying to prove the man was driving the vehicle or had struck another vehicle.

Judge Brian Bruser fined the man and gave him a mandatory 12-year driving prohibition.

Bruser mentioned the fact the man had tried to blame his girlfriend right off the bat, but said it could not be considered in his sentence.

"If that's what actually occurred he can make peace with her," said Bruser.

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