REGINA – A Regina woman received a probation sentence after pleading guilty to a charge of assault against her six-year-old daughter.
Kristen Desjarlais, 29, appeared in Regina Provincial Court on April 18, pleading guilty to the charge. A subsequent failure to attend charged was stayed by the Crown in light of the guilty plea.
Court heard the incident occurred on June 24, 2022 when Desjarlais threw the child to the ground, breaking her arm in the process. Desjarlais had been drinking at the time of the assault, something she admits has been a problem in her life and she used to cope with grief.
Judge James Rybchuk took into account Desjarlais’ ability to take responsibility for her actions and the fact of no prior criminal record. Court also heard she has quit drinking and has support from an elder. Given several traumatic incidents in her youth and adulthood, Desjarlais is intent on breaking the cycle of violence.
“If you really don’t want your child to be in the same situation….do it for her - do it for all four of them,” Judge Rybchuk told Desjarlais.
Instead of a jail sentence, Judge Rybchuk placed Desjarlais under an 18-month probation order with conditions including assessments and programming for anger management, personal counselling, grief counselling, and addictions. The Victim Fine Surcharge was waived.
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