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One year for aggravated assault
Fort Liard man found guilty by jury after stomping on acquaintance's headNathalie Heiberg-Harrison Northern News Services Published Thursday, October 6, 2011
Eugene Hope was handed a one-year jail sentence followed by one year of probation after his sentencing in Fort Simpson on Sept. 29. In addition to his jail time, Hope has been ordered to attend any counselling recommended by his probation officer, completely abstain from alcohol, not have any contact with the victim, submit to a DNA analysis, pay a $100 fine and is prohibited from possessing a firearm for 10 years. The charges stemmed from an incident in Fort Liard on July 24 when Hope, 35, got into a fight with an acquaintance in the early morning. After the victim was thrown to the ground and lay defenceless, Hope stomped on his head, according to the evidence. A CT scan later confirmed the victim had fractures to his cheek, eye and jaw bones because of the blow. He also suffered a jagged cut below his nose and may need reconstructive surgery in the future. "No matter how the fight started, the victim was on the ground, defenceless," Crown prosecutor Dan Rideout said in court on Sept. 29. In a statement submitted to the court, the victim described how he had to travel to Fort Nelson, B.C., three times for medical care and was forced to stop working. "I am now permanently scarred and deformed in my face," he wrote. "I no longer feel safe in my home community or even at my home ... Even the idea of going out on the land kind of freaks me out." As a result of the incident, he said he has started drinking heavily again after stopping for seven or eight years. Hope had two prior assault charges, one from 2003 and another from 2005. In both instances he was fined and didn't serve any jail time. In court, Crown prosecutors reduced their recommended sentence for Hope to 15 months from 18 because of glowing character references he received from residents in Fort Liard. Before his sentencing, Hope addressed the court, apologizing for his actions and saying he pleaded not guilty because of how intoxicated he was at the time of the altercation. "I have no clear memory of that night because of the drinking I was doing," he said. His lawyer, Anthony Parr, said Hope had been drinking straight whiskey with beer as a chaser before the fight started.
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