ESTEVAN - A southeast Saskatchewan woman is going to have to spend more time behind bars after she was sentenced Feb. 3 in Estevan Provincial Court.
Chassity Lynn Somerville was sentenced to two years less a day in prison after she pleaded guilty to several charges. She received credit for 396 pre-sentence days in custody, which amounts to 594 days of enhanced credit, leaving her with 135 days to serve, beginning with her sentencing date.
She will then have 18 months of probation.
Somerville pleaded guilty to one count each of assault, assaulting a peace officer, theft of a motor vehicle and theft under $5,000, and two counts of failing to comply with a probation order.
Numerous other charges were stayed, including failing to comply with a probation order but also for possession of property obtained by crime.
Crown attorney Travis Avery pointed out Somerville has a criminal record, including a history of non-compliance with orders and violence against peace officers, which resulted in custodial orders.
Avery pointed out the sentencing submission was a joint effort with defence attorney Aleida Oberholzer.
Avery noted the incidents for which Somerville was sentenced occurred in late 2023 and early 2024. It started when the Estevan Police Service carried out curfew checks in late December 2023. Somerville did not present herself at the door when required to do so. In early January 2024, she was accused of stealing a truck, taking a woman's purse and striking the woman, and assaulting another woman in a separate incident, all in the span of a few days.
The assault of a peace officer occurred on Jan. 24, 2024, when Somerville struck a corrections officer while she was in custody at the Pine Grove Correctional Centre.
"Ms. Somerville has been in custody for a little over a year now on these charges, and what we have tried to do is balance the necessity to denounce and deter this type of behaviour with an effort to try to get Ms. Somerville back on her feet," said Avery.
Oberholzer noted there are some personal circumstances for Somerville, but she is now in a better state of mind at a hospital in North Battleford, and Oberholzer added Somerville has a number of supports in the community who have reached out to Olberhoser to say they could provide different services.
Oberholzer went on to say Somerville has also been actively engaged in her own healing journey, and has also been receiving her Grade 12 education while in custody.
Somerville told the court she wants to make improvements in her life for the sake of her children.
Once she is released from prison, Somerville will be subject to a number of release conditions during her probation.
