Assault case involving former Montreal Lake band manager ends in alternative measures

The court case for the former band manager of the Montreal Lake Cree Nation, accused of assaulting a councillor, ended with alternative measures yesterday.

Mark D’amato was accused of assaulting a Montreal Lake councillor in January of this year. After numerous adjournments, the court decided alternative measures would be an appropriate answer.

Alternative measures programming is meant to “provide individuals who are accused of committing a Criminal Code offence an opportunity to make reparation to victims and their community,” according to Ministry of Justice policies. According to the ministry, alternative measures programs attempt to balance the needs of the victims, the accused and communities while “ensuring that society is protected.” The programs emphasize healing and attempt to repair relations between all parties involved.

Possible resolutions in alternative measures programs include apology, restitution or compensation, donations to charity, personal service work for the victim, community service work, participation in specialized programming, public education or “other agreements that are reasonable in light of the needs and interest of the persons involved.”

This was not the first time D’amato has appeared in court. In 2007 he went to federal court and sued the then department of Aboriginal Affairs over allegations of misconduct, which allegedly occurred in 2004 and 2005. In 2016, he appeared in Prince Albert Provincial Court facing charges of assault with a weapon, assault causing bodily harm and uttering threats. Those charges were stayed in the fall of 2016, as the Crown believed there were no grounds for conviction in that case.

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D’amato could not be reached for comment.

Bryan.Eneas@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @BryanEneas