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Red Deer tire slasher admits guilt

A man who was so drunk from celebrating his 21st birthday that he didn’t remember slashing dozens of tires in north Red Deer this summer received a conditional discharge on Monday.

A man who was so drunk from celebrating his 21st birthday that he didn’t remember slashing dozens of tires in north Red Deer this summer received a conditional discharge on Monday.

Colin Hodgson of Lacombe received a six-month conditional discharge after pleading guilty earlier to 33 counts of mischief in Red Deer provincial court.

He also had a $5,260 restitution order issued against him and he must perform 20 hours of community service work.

If Hodgson abides by all the discharge conditions, he won’t have a criminal record.

Crown prosecutor Wayne Silliker and defence lawyer Brad Mulder worked out the resolution for Judge Thomas Schollie’s consideration and it was accepted.

Court heard earlier this year, when Hodgson pleaded guilty, that the slashing spree in Kentwood occurred on June 9.

A Kentwood-area resident phoned police around 3 a.m. to report that mischief was occurring in his neighbourhood. Police responded to the Kendrew Drive area and found a number of vehicles with slashed tires.

A short time later, police located two males who matched the descriptions provided by the witness.

Both males were arrested.

Mulder said his client was so drunk that he “blacked out” and had to be told by his friend what he had done.

Silliker called Hodgson’s actions a “very stupid evening of ridiculous drinking.”

He also said victims still have the option of taking Hodgson to civil claims court to collect damages.

The case against a 24-year-old who faces 33 mischief to property charges is working its way through the court system.

Mulder said Hodgson was a provincial champion junior curler. He also won a gold medal at the 2007 Canada Winter Games in curling.

He’s also pitched for the Red Deer Riggers, who represented Alberta at last summer’s Canadian senior men’s baseball championships.

jwilson@www.reddeeradvocate.com