Charges:  Assault (by choking); Mischief.

Issue: Given the rehabilitative steps we were able to guide our client through, whether it was in the public interest to proceed with the criminal prosecution.

Result: Mr. Gauthier was able to provide information including our client’s counselling records to crown counsel and persuaded Crown to enter a stay of proceedings. No criminal record.

Charge: Criminal harassment.

Issue: Whether there were reasonable and probable grounds to believe that our client had committed a criminal offence.

Result: Mr. Mines was able to provide police with video and text message records that caused the investigator to conclude that a criminal prosecution was not appropriate. No charge was approved.

Charge: Criminal Harassment; Breach of a recognizance.

Issue: Whether it was appropriate to resolve this domestic harassment by ending the criminal prosecution.

Result: Mr. Gauthier was able to persuade Crown counsel to stay the criminal charges upon. our client entering into a Peace Bond for a period of 12 months. No criminal record.

Charge: Possession of child pornography.

Issue: Whether police would be able to prove that our client was the only person that had access to the IP address on which the unlawful material was downloaded.

Result: Mr. Mines provided information to the police investigator that led the investigator to close the file with no charges recommended against our client. No jail. No criminal record.

Charges: Assault; Uttering Threats.

Issue: Whether it was appropriate for the court to enter a conviction.

Result: Mr. Gauthier was able to steer our client through a course of rehabilitation and was able to persuade Crown counsel and the Court to grant our client a conditional discharge.  No criminal conviction.

Charge: Breach of Probation (no contact).

Issue: Whether the Crown could prove that our client intended to breach the “no contact” order that he was subject to.

Result: Mr. Mines was able to persuade Crown counsel that our client bumped into the complainant accidentally. Crown counsel entered a stay of proceedings, bringing the matter to an end. No criminal record.

Charge: Insurance fraud under $5,000 investigation.

Issue: Whether it was in the public interest to proceed with criminal charges.

Result: Mr. Gauthier was able to negotiate civil repayment and obtained a civil Release, ensuring that the matter would end. No criminal charges.

Charge: Assault (domestic).

Issue: In light of the rehabilitative steps our client completed, whether there was a public interest in proceeding with this child discipline/assault case.

Result: Mr. Mines was able to rely on the extraordinary circumstances of the case and our client’s commitment to ongoing family counselling. He was able to persuade Crown counsel to enter a stay of proceedings. No criminal record.

Charges: Failing to remain at the scene of an accident.

Issue: Whether our client was obligated to provide a possibly incriminating  statement to the adjuster that could have led to criminal charges and a loss of  insurance coverage.

Result:  Mr. Mines was able to provide the required information to ICBC our client’s behalf. No charges were  recommended. No loss of insurance coverage.

Charge: Sexual Assault.

Issue: The credibility and reliability of the complainant and  our client who both testified in this historic sexual assault case.

Result: After  9 hours of deliberations, the jury was deadlocked and could not reach an unanimous decision. No conviction. The trial judge remitted the matter back to court to set a new trial.

Charge: Dangerous Driving Causing Bodily Harm.

Issue: Whether there was a substantial likelihood of a criminal conviction and whether it was in the public interest to proceed with a criminal charge.

Result: Mr. Johnson was able to persuade Crown counsel to proceed under the Motor Vehicle Act rather than the Criminal Code. After gearing Mr. Johnson’s submissions, the Court sentenced our client to a $100 fine and a 3 year driving prohibition. No criminal record. No jail.

Charge: Theft Under $5000 (shoplifting).

Issue: Whether it was in the public interest to proceed with a criminal prosecution.

Result: Mr. Gauthier was able to persuade the investigating RCMP member to not forward criminal charges after we settled the matter civilly on our client’s behalf. No criminal record.