ATHABASCA – A Lac La Biche man has two months to go on his jail sentence after he threatened to rape and kill his sister earlier this year.
Allan Micheal George Quintal, 34, pleaded guilty to uttering threats, and breaching two probation clauses during his Feb. 10 appearance in the Athabasca Court of Justice as part of a joint submission between Crown prosecutor Matthew Kerr and defence counsel Gary Smith.
On Jan. 7, Lac La Biche RCMP officers received a complaint from Quintal’s sister that he was at her residence and had threatened to kill and rape her. Quintal, who was on a probation order from last summer to not contact his sister or go to her home, was arrested the same day, and has been in custody since.
“It’s a very mitigating guilty plea; it’s early, and had a trial proceeded it would have required Mr. Quintal’s sister to testify against him,” said Justice Carrie-Ann Downey, who accepted the joint submission.
“I do have some information in front of me which certainly speaks to the moral culpability and reduces it somewhat with respect to mental health issues.”
Quintal didn’t speak on his own behalf, and he waived his right to a formal Gladue report — a pre-sentence report that provides information on an Indigenous offender’s background, circumstance, and potential needs to help inform sentencing.
“He has had a lot of trauma in his life. He’s lost a couple of brothers, he was using drugs, and he’s been diagnosed with mental health issues,” said Smith.
Quintal, who plans on living in Edmonton when he finishes the 66 days remaining on his sentence, will have some familial support when he’s out. According to Smith, Quintal’s mother is helping him find a place to stay.
“His moral culpability has been reduced by the fact that there are this mental health issues, and he’s entered the guilty plea very early in the proceedings,” said Smith.
An additional charge for uttering threats, and two additional charges for breaching probation orders were withdrawn as part of the sentence.
