ATHABASCA – A Calling Lake man who slammed his mother against a wall multiple times causing her to flee her own home is hoping lessons learned in the Edmonton Remand Centre will help him stay sober once he’s back on the streets.
In Athabasca Court of Justice Nov. 2, Samuel John Jacobs, 37, pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of assault as part of a joint submission between Crown prosecutor Matthew Kerr and defence lawyer Lauretta Onumah. Jacobs had originally been charged with assault by strangulation, choking, or suffocating.
On Halloween, Jacobs’s mother was asleep in her room when she was awoken by her son slamming doors and making loud noises. He followed her around the house while yelling at her, before grabbing her by the shoulder and slamming her against a wall.
He held his mother by her throat, without applying pressure before again slamming her against a wall. Jacobs picked up a can of gasoline, which his mother thought would be thrown on her. She was able to flee the house and call the RCMP from her sister’s residence.
Jacobs’s guilty plea won’t see him return to society right away, however. While his 30-day sentence was satisfied by pre-sentence time in custody, he’s currently waiting for two charges of assault with a weapon, as well as three charges for failing to attend court to resolve in Edmonton’s courthouse. His next appearance is set for Jan. 2, 2025, and he will remain at the ERC until then.
Kerr said the sentencing reflected the odd nature of Jacobs's situation but did take into account his early guilty plea as a strong mitigating factor.
“I didn’t know what the best course of action for this file would be; he’s in custody for other violent charges, so probation seemed odd,” said Kerr. “He has no record, it’s not an incredibly serious file. The sentence is based on his unique circumstances.”
Onumah also made submissions on her client's behalf — while Jacobs identifies as a non-status Indigenous person, circumstances in his life contributed to the matter.
“He does feel responsible for his actions. He has advised that his actions were borne out of him losing his temper,” said Onumah. “He admits that he could have handled the situation in a more mature manner.
“He also told me about his struggles with racism and alcoholism. While he’s struggled with alcohol for the longest time, he recently completed rehab and is hoping to continue on that path and stay sober.”
