SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - An 18-year-old man who broke into a Yellowknife school and violated court conditions was sentenced to four months of house arrest and two months under curfew in territorial court on Nov. 10.

Police spotted the man with two other people on the tennis court behind Mildred Hall School on May 30. When the police approached to see what the group was doing, the trio bolted for the school and broke into it.

"They simply did not want to get caught by the police and have their alcohol taken away," said Judge Bernadette Schmaltz.

"There was no damage, nothing taken," she added.

The man in court was arrested and charged, but it was not made clear during sentencing what became of the other two involved.

The offender was on probation at the time of the offences, arising from a youth matter. He was under conditions not to consume alcohol, yet he was found intoxicated in front of the Gold Range on July 30. He also broke a court condition that required him to take counselling for alcoholism. The counselling was set up for him but he did not attend.

Schmaltz gave him a conditional sentence which he will be able to serve at home, and a laundry list of exemptions that allow him to participate in society and live an active life, as Schmaltz noted it would be good for his personal development.

The man is allowed to leave his house if he or a family member has a medical emergency; if he has a job interview or appointment or if he is working; if he is applying for an educational or training program or if he is attending such a program; if he is going to a spiritual service; or if he joins an organized sports team

and is participating in that sport.

He is not allowed to consume alcohol or drugs and is required to take any counselling his conditional sentence supervisor recommends, including alcohol and drug counselling. He is also allowed to leave his house to participate in those sessions.

He can also leave his house on Wednesday between 3 and 6 p.m., and on Saturday between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., to do errands.

"You have more freedom than a lot of people under house arrest so don't mess it up," said Schmaltz.

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