THUNDER BAY - A Eabametoong First Nation man involved in a 2020 stabbing incident on the city’s south side that injured two people has been sentenced to 20 months.
Russell Moonias, 23, appeared before Justice Elaine Burton in a Thunder Bay Courtroom on Friday where he pleaded guilty to one count of aggravated assault, one count of assault with a weapon, and one count of failing to comply with a release order.
According to an agreed statement of facts, officers with the Thunder Bay Police Service were dispatched to a possible weapons call at an apartment building the 100 block of May Street south at approximately 2:30 a.m. on Sep. 16, 2020.
Officers located a male being treated by paramedics for a wound consistent with a stabbing. It was later determined that a male victim had a four-inch stab wound in his upper left back. A second female victim was located who suffered a deep cut to her right hand.
The victims were transported to the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre for treatment of their injuries.
The suspect was identified as Moonias and police learned that he and the two victims were returning from a bar when an altercation took place. All three were known to each other.
No medical records or victim impact statements were submitted to the court.
The Crown and defense counsel proposed a joint sentencing submission of 20 months to be followed by two years probation.
Defense counsel Patricia Vo detailed the findings of a pre-sentence report that indicated Moonias has struggled with substance abuse issues since a young age and has experienced the loss of several family members.
Moonias has no previous criminal record and Vo indicated that he intends to undergo rehabilitation for his substance abuse issues and return to his home community upon his release to seek meaningful employment.
Crown attorney, Thomas Bud, said despite Moonias’ young age and lack of a criminal record, the offences were very serious and could have resulted in a much more severe outcome had the victims succumbed to their injuries.
Justice Burton accepted the joint submission on sentencing but noted the seriousness of the offence.
“Even taking Gladue into account, this is the kind of violence that calls for a significant jail sentence,” she said.
She did acknowledge the mitigating factors of Moonias pleading guilty to the charges and taking responsibility, as well as this being his first offence.
“I hope this will be a learning experience,” she said. “The time to stop this path is now and I hope you recognize that.”
With pre-sentence custody of 344 real days enhanced at a rate of 1.5-to-one to 516 days, Moonias will serve an additional 92 days in custody, followed by two years probation.
Moonias is also required to submit a DNA sample and is subject to a 10-year weapons prohibition. The victim fine surcharge fee was waived. All remaining counts were withdrawn at the request of the Crown.
