ATHABASCA – A local woman from the Calling Lake area who was arrested twice at the same residence in a four-day span recieved a 50-day jail sentence and a lifetime weapons prohibition.
In Athabasca Court of Justice Oct. 28, Kelly Anne Gambler, 40, pleaded guilty to resisting a peace officer, possessing prohibited ammunition, breaching a probation order, and failing to comply with a release order as part of a joint submission between Crown prosecutor Andrew Dirgo and defence counsel Moe Tanash.
“It’s a true joint submission before you,” said Tanash, who told the judge Gambler wanted to take accountability for her actions. “She was quite clear with our office in respect to those matters, and that she wanted to take the guilty plea and resolve it.”
Gambler’s offences took place this fall, starting with a Sept. 8 incident in Calling Lake. Dirgo told court that the Athabasca RCMP had received a call that Gambler was in the area with weapons.
When the police showed up, they were told Gambler had entered a residence belonging to her parents. RCMP knocked on the door, which had been locked. After waiting for help to breach the door, police located Gambler in the basement, despite being on a peace bond to not attend the residence at the time.
Later that week, the RCMP received a call from Calling Lake security that Gambler was again at the residence. A officer attended and found her sitting on the lawn with a purse beside her.
After being informed she was under arrest, Gambler kept trying to grab for her purse and pull away from the officer. When the officer attempted to take her to the ground, she continued to resist the arrest.
After being brought to the detachment, officers found two knives, a handmade metal spike, and nine rounds of ammunition. Gambler was on a peace bond at the time with a no-weapons condition.
While no formal Gladue report was prepared, Tanash told Justice Gordon Putnam there were Gladue factors to consider, including Gambler’s family background and early childhood.
As a result of her plea, Gambler will face a lifetime firearms prohibition under Section 109 of the Criminal Code of Canada.
Justice Putnam waived the victim-fine surcharge, noting Gambler had been incarcerated for the previous 50 days and as such, the fine would be an undue hardship.
