THUNDER BAY - A southern Ontario woman was sentenced to five months of jail for assaulting another woman with bear spray at a local motel last September.
Sage Bartman, 24, appeared in a Thunder Bay courtroom by audio on Thursday, July 23, and pleaded guilty to a number of charges including assault with a weapon, breaching a probation order, possessing fentanyl, and failing to comply with a previous release order.
Court heard that on Sept. 29, 2019, police responded to a Cumberland Street motel after receiving reports that a woman had been assaulted with bear spray.
When officers attended the area, they learned Bartman had sprayed the victim after unexpectedly showing up to the motel and knocking on one of the doors and when the complainant opened the door, she was assaulted.
The victim experienced significant pain and discomfort as a result of being sprayed, the court heard.
For the drug possession matter on June 13, Thunder Bay police were executing a search warrant on Sequoia Drive. Police located Bartman on the scene and she was arrested on outstanding warrants.
When she was transported to the Thunder Bay police headquarters on Balmoral Street and searched by officers, police located a marble size aluminum foil in her bra. Bartman admitted it was fentanyl that she had purchased earlier to consume herself.
Before Bartman was sentenced, she spoke briefly to the court and apologized for her actions.
Defence counsel Megan McMahon told the court her client has suffered from serious addiction issues and started using drugs at the age of 13. She also stated Bartman has experienced significant trauma in her life including the passing of her brother.
Since being in custody, McMahon said her client has been working towards remaining sober.
“She advises me that the first thing she wants to do when she gets out of custody is to prove to herself that she can stay sober,” she said, adding Bartman has disclosed to her she wants to work toward getting access to her son again and becoming a tattoo artist.
Justice Chantal Brochu accepted a joint submission for Bartman and sentenced her to a total of five months of custody and was also granted credit for the time Bartman has already served in pre-sentence custody.
After her custodial sentence, she will be placed on a two-year probation period.
She will also be prohibited from possessing any weapons for a period of five years.
