By paNOW

Woman who choked friend over ride handed 12-month sentence

Jun 20, 2017 | 3:00 PM

A Sturgeon Lake woman who choked another woman while trying to get a lift into the city won’t be needing any more rides for a while after a judge sentenced her to 12 months in custody.

Jeanetta Joyce Ballantyne, 26, pleaded guilty to assaulting a friend with intent to steal in connection with an incident dating back to Feb. 26. Prosecutor Elizabeth Addabor said Ballantyne was at a Sturgeon Lake home along with her boyfriend and others, when the highly-intoxicated Ballantyne demanded a ride into Prince Albert from another woman. The woman declined, Addabor said, so Ballantyne choked her while shouting, swearing and demanding she hand over the keys to her vehicle.

Ballantyne’s then-boyfriend entered the room with a gun, Addabor said, which he fired while continuing to demand a ride. Under duress the woman agreed to drive the violent couple, but as soon as they left the home a witness phoned police and warned them about the situation.

Prince Albert Police intercepted the group on 13th St. W. Addabor said the boyfriend fled on foot, but was quickly arrested along with the two women who were still in the car. According to a police report, service dog Daxa was used to track and arrest Ballantyne’s boyfriend, who dropped a sawed-off .22 rifle during the brief foot-chase.

Student-at-Law Michelle Caron said Ballantyne had no idea her then-boyfriend was going to brandish or fire the rifle, and said Ballantyne showed remorse even before the police became involved. Ballantyne offered the driver an apology and $40 for gas during the drive to Prince Albert, she said, and did not realize until after the fact how traumatic the incident was for her friend.

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Ballantyne, Caron added, is now single.

Given the chance to speak before her sentence was imposed, Ballantyne tearfully apologized for her crime and said she now understands she needs help with alcoholism and anger management.

“I learned that I have an anger problem and a drinking problem,” Ballantyne said. “What I did was wrong… I’m deeply sorry.”

Based on a joint submission by the Crown and defence, Judge Violet Meekma sentenced Ballantyne to 12 months behind bars and banned her from owning firearms for 10 years. Because she has been in custody since her arrest in February, Ballantyne will serve 189 days.

Taylor.macpherson@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @TMacPhersonNews