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Court Briefs

A man pleaded guilty to his seventh impaired driving conviction this week, landing him a four-month jail sentence and three-year driving prohibition.

A man pleaded guilty to his seventh impaired driving conviction this week, landing him a four-month jail sentence and three-year driving prohibition.

Christopher Larocque pleaded guilty to driving with a blood alcohol over the legal limit and was handed the jail term, which will run concurrently to one he is already serving.

With this latest, Larocque now has a total of seven similar convictions on his record, with one in 1984, two in 1986 and one in 2002.

The St. Albert charges stem from a traffic stop that took place on Oct. 29, 2009. After this arrest, he was charged two more times in other jurisdictions and those charges were also resolved through guilty pleas.

Court heard Monday the St. Albert charge was the last outstanding one he needed to settle.

A municipal enforcement officer originally stopped Larocque for a traffic infraction, but the officer suspected he was impaired and called the RCMP.

When the RCMP officer arrived they spotted an open can of beer in his vehicle and Larocque admitted to drinking.

When he was taken back to the detachment he registered a blood alcohol reading of 0.15, well over the legal limit.

Laroque was already serving one of his other convictions and the concurrent sentence means he will be able to serve both at the same time.

His three-year driving prohibition makes it illegal for him to operate a vehicle during that term, but regulatory agencies that administer driver’s licences in Alberta and other provinces may keep him suspended even longer.

A man with his fourth impaired driving conviction in less than three years was sentenced to six months in jail Monday.

Todd Clark Smith pleaded guilty to a single count of impaired driving and a single count of operating while disqualified.

Police received a call from a passerby in the Grandin Save-on Foods parking lot after they witnessed a man hitting the median before starting to drive away.

Police caught up with the vehicle across the street at the Tudor Glen Market. When they approached the car they found Smith behind the wheel, slurring his words. Officers noted he was driving while suspended.

Smith was unsteady on his feet and failed the roadside alcohol test.

When he was taken back to the detachment, before he was even given a breathalyzer test Smith collapsed and police took him to hospital.

Samples of his blood were taken, but due to the guilty plea the levels were never tested.

The Crown sought between four and six months in jail.

Through his lawyer, Smith said his drinking was completely out of control and he had finally reached his bottom and realized he had to change.

He mentioned having dealt with some tragic losses, but Judge Norman Mackie said that was simply no excuse for his behaviour.

“I am sympathetic with the tragedies you have had to face, but your life is your life,” said Mackie. “You haven’t quite reached the bottom, but you are about to.”

In addition to the jail time, Mackie imposed an 18-month driving prohibition beginning when he is released from jail.

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