A Victoria alcoholic at the centre of a panhandling court case has been sentenced to 60 days in jail and one year's probation for an assault he can't even remember.
Gerald (Red) Doumont appeared in Victoria provincial court yesterday and pleaded guilty to assault and uttering threats to his roommate Darlene Collins and her friend Brenda Boag.
The offences took place on Jan. 24 at the Spring Street apartment Doumont shared with Collins.
Last year, the City of Victoria was unsuccessful in its bid for an injunction to prevent Doumont, the subject of 256 police calls since 1997, from asking for money from passersby downtown.
Crown counsel Laura Ford told Judge Evan Blake the recent assault took place when an intoxicated Doumont started yelling at the women and calling them names as they watched a DVD in the living room. Boag, who was also intoxicated, called Doumont a "goof." Doumont shouted he was "going to slit their throats," then grabbed Boag by the neck and repeatedly hit her, said Ford.
Collins, who reached for the phone to dial 9-1-1, was told by Doumont that if she called police he "would put a bullet in their heads."
Police arrived and arrested a very aggressive Doumont.
Because he repeatedly hit his head on the partition between the front and back seat of the police car, the officers called an ambulance. He was so agitated, paramedics sedated him.
Court heard that Doumont has been convicted of five assaults. At the time of this assault, he was on probation after being convicted of uttering threats in June 2008. Doumont is scheduled to appear on another assault charge on Feb. 24.
"Clearly he doesn't get when he drinks he is violent and puts others at risk," said Ford, who asked Blake to impose a three-to-four-month jail sentence.
Doumont's lawyer, David Lyon, told Blake his client has never wanted treatment or counselling for his alcoholism --until now. Doumont had been co-operating with members of the Victoria Integrated Community Outreach Team and was doing well until the day before he assaulted Boag, he said.
"Now he's recognizing treatment is necessary," said Lyon. "He's lost his home. That's probably the most significant thing in his life."
Blake noted Doumont's long history of alcohol abuse and the fact he might have underlying mental health issues.
Blake credited Doumont with 22 days time served for the 11 days he has spent in custody and imposed a 60-day sentence followed by one year's probation.
Doumont's conditions include a 10-year weapons' ban. He is also required to complete drug or alcohol treatment programs, a residential treatment program or attend forensic psychiatric services as directed by his probation officer. Doumont must also accept assistance available through the Victoria Integrated Community Outreach Team.
ldickson@tc.canwest.com
