Charge: Sexual assault.
Issue: Whether there was a substantial likelihood of a conviction.
Result: Mr. Mines was able to steer our client through the police investigation by providing information to police on our client’s behalf. Ultimately, Crown counsel decided to not approve any criminal charge. No jail; no criminal record.
Charges: Sexual assault, assault x 2
Issues: Whether a jail sentence was appropriate in all the circumstances, and whether our client should be excused from having to register as a sex offender.
Result: Upon hearing Mr. Johnston’s submissions regarding our client’s personal circumstances, rehabilitative progress, and the unusual nature of the offences, the Court imposed a sentence of probation, rather than the conditional sentence the Crown had sought. For the same reasons, the Court also agreed to excuse our client from the usual requirement of having to register as a sex offender.
Charges: Sexual Assault (reduced to Peace Bond).
Issue: Whether the complainant’s evidence would be credible and reliable in this historic sexual assault allegation. Also, whether there was a public interest in continuing the prosecution against our client who was a youth at the time of the allegations.
Result: Mr. Gauthier was able to provide information to Crown counsel about our client’s circumstances and the circumstances of the incident. He persuaded Crown to make a peace bond application, rather than continuing the criminal prosecution. Stay of Proceedings. No criminal record.
Charge: Sexual Assault.
Issue: Whether Crown could prove that the complainant was credible and reliable in this three day trial that involved an allegation of sexual assault.
Result: After Mr. Gauthier vigorously cross examined the complainant, the trial judge accepted Mr. Gauthier’s submissions and found our client not guilty. An acquittal was entered. No criminal record; no jail time.
Charges: Sexual Assault (police investigation).
Issue: Whether there was sufficient evidence to support a criminal prosecution.
Result: Mr. Gauthier opposed the police application to extend the time period they could continue to retain seized evidence and he provided advice to our client in steering him through the investigation. The matter concluded with no criminal charges being forwarded to Crown. No criminal record.
Charges: B&E; Assault; Distribute Intimate Images.
Issue: Whether the Crown could comply with a defence disclosure request and possibly face a Charter application to have charges stayed due to unreasonable delay.
Result: On the eve of the trial, Mr. Mines was able to persuade Crown to allow our client to plead guilty to the least serious charge, assault by slapping. Crown nonetheless sought a conviction and probation but, after hearing Mr. Mines’ submissions, the trial judge granted our client a conditional discharge. No criminal conviction.
Charge: Sexual Assault (reduced to Peace Bond).
Issue: Whether the complainant’s evidence would be credible and reliable at trial, and whether there was public interest in continuing to prosecute our client.
Result: Mr. Johnston was able to provide information to Crown counsel about our client’s circumstances and the circumstances of the incident which persuaded the Crown to agree to resolve the matter by applying for a peace bond rather than continuing the criminal prosecution. Stay of Proceedings. No criminal record.
Charges: Sexual Assault; Sexual Interference.
Issue: Whether the complainant held herself out to be at least 16 years of age and whether our client took reasonable steps to ascertain her age.
Result: Mr. Mines was able to provide information to Crown counsel on our client’s behalf that established that our client did take reasonable steps to ascertain the complainant’s age. In the result, Crown declined to approve any criminal charges. No criminal record.
Charges: Sexual Assault; Breach of undertaking.
Issue: Whether the complaint met the Crown’s charge approval standard. Whether it was in the public interest to proceed with the breach charge.
Result: Mr. Gauthier was able to provide information to Crown on our client’s behalf which, ultimately, resulted in Crown not approving any charge on the sexual assault complaint and agreeing to a 12 month peace bond on the breach charge. No jail. No criminal record.
Charges: Break and Enter; Sexual Assault.
Issue: Whether there was a substantial likelihood of a conviction.
Result: Mr. Gauthier was able to persuade Crown counsel that the Crown lacked the necessary evidence to gain a conviction. On the eve of the trial, Crown entered a stay of proceedings, bringing the matter to an end. No criminal record.
Charges: Sexual Assault (x4).
Issue: Given our client’s extensive progress with rehabilitation and the collateral consequences of a conviction, whether it was appropriate for our client to be granted a conditional discharge.
Result: After hearing Mr. Mines’ extensive submissions on our client’s behalf, the trial judge granted our client a conditional discharge rather than imposing a conviction which would have resulted in a deportation order.
Charges: Sexual assault; assault.
Issue: Whether the trial judge would allow Mr. Mines’ application to cross examine the complainant on prior records (text messages) that impacted her credibility and reliability.
Result: The trial judge allowed our application in part, and ruled that the remaining issues could be renewed at at further point in the trial. Crown counsel entered a stay of proceedings after the conclusion of our application. No further prosection. No jail. no criminal record.
A huge thanks to Michael Mines for getting this criminal charge brought to a fair and appropriate conclusion with a criminal charge being dropped. Michael knows his profession and is well versed in criminal law to seek the best possible outcome for an individual like me, who at 77 years, simply made an honest mistake. […]
Our client had taken responsibility for his actions by pleading guilty in Richmond Provincial Court where he was granted a conditional discharge. Upon being threatened and taunted by his roommate, our client kicked in the door to the roommate’s doo=r and held a meat cleaver to his throat. The Crown appealed sentence. At the sentence […]
