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Plumber jailed for drunk driving

A young plumber will do time for a drunk driving crash that put his little girl’s life in danger.

A young plumber will do time for a drunk driving crash that put his little girl’s life in danger.

Scott Bell, 26, pleaded guilty on Tuesday to charges laid on March 17 by Sylvan Lake RCMP. The charges included driving while over .08 and breaching probation.

Police were called at about 6:30 p.m. to reports that a northbound pickup truck had flown off the road, crashed through a fence and landed in deep snow in a back yard at the T-intersection where 60th Street meets Hwy 11A.

Police believed that the pickup truck had to have been travelling extremely fast to reach the spot where it stopped, Crown prosecutor Jordan Petty told Judge Jim Mitchell in Red Deer provincial court on Tuesday.

Investigators at the scene found the truck still running with Bell inside. His two-year-old daughter was strapped into a carseat beside him. The lower of two breath samples found Bell’s blood alcohol level at .125.

Petty called for a significant period in jail on each charge, advising the court that Bell’s arrest came just three days after Mitchell had put him on probation for common assault. The order included a condition that he abstain from alcohol and all other intoxicating substances.

Duty Counsel Murray Shack described Bell as a fourth-year plumbing apprentice who has had some troubles, including the breakdown of his relationship with the child’s mother.

Shack agreed with Petty’s position that a period of custody would be appropriate, remarking that Bell’s previous conviction for impaired driving was more than five years ago.

He asked Mitchell for an intermittent sentence, which would allow Bell to keep working to support his daughter and to continue with counselling for the issues facing him, including his struggles with alcohol.

He said child welfare workers are preventing Bell from seeing his daughter, but he continues to provide support payments for her.

Mitchell said the facts placed before him “cry out” for serious punishment

“The ink was barely dry on the probation order. Did you think the probation order was some sort of joke?” said Mitchell.

“Three days after I give you a break, here you are, not just drinking, but drinking and driving a motor vehicle, with your daughter, endangering the little child’s life.”

While Petty asked for a global sentence of 75 days, Mitchell accepted Shack’s suggestion of 45 days, including 30 days for driving over .08 and 15 days for breaching probation. Bell was also prohibited from driving for two years, but may have an ignition interlock installed after nine months, if approved by the province.

The earlier probation order continues and Bell will be allowed to serve his new sentence on weekends.

Mitchell waived the victim of crime surcharges, stating that he wants that money saved for the little girl.

bkossowan@www.reddeeradvocate.com