Probation for assault

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In Taber provincial court on Dec. 22, a 45-year-old local man pled guilty to assault, public mischief, failure to appear in court and failure to attend for identification purposes. Franz Wiebe Bergen was sentenced to $200 in fines and one year of probation by Judge S.L. Oishi.

Crown prosecutor Michael Fox read the facts of separate incidents into the record.

On Aug. 7, the accused had filed a report with the Taber/Vauxhall RCMP detachment alleging he had been assaulted by his wife, causing injury to his face.

After initiating an investigation, police learned the accused had actually received the injuries in a physical altercation with his 14-year-old son, which was confirmed in a statement taken from the accused’s 13-year-old daughter, who had been a witness to the incident. Fox related there had been ongoing domestic problems between the accused and his wife that may have contributed to Bergen’s actions. The accused was charged with public mishief for making a false statement to police.

Then on Oct. 10, according to Fox, the accused and his wife had been involved in a verbal altercation in which Bergen’s son attempted to intervene.

After police were contacted, their investigation revealed the accused had seized his son and dragged him an undisclosed distance before pushing him to the ground. Bergen was charged with the offence.

Finally on Sept. 15, the accused failed to appear in court for a docket appearance, and on the same day also failed to report to the police detachment for identification purposes. The accused was charged with both offences.

The accused had no previous criminal record. As conditions of his probation, Bergen was ordered to attend for assessment, treatment and councelling for anger management and domestic violence.

Judge Oishi also issued a $260 victim-fine surcharge.

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