A Red Deer judge blasted a woman in provincial court on Thursday for the role he said she has played in making the city’s downtown a less pleasant place for ordinary people to visit.
Robyn Longhorst, who had been in custody at Red Deer Remand Centre for 60 days, pleaded guilty and was sentenced to time served in relation to an incident in the city downtown, at 49th Street and 51st Ave.
Crown prosecutor Jillian Brown said Longhorst, 28, approached a woman unknown to her and asked her if she had a cigarette and cash.
When the woman said she didn’t, Longhorst showed her a knife and called her a “f------ liar,” said Brown.
Longhorst, who has a prior criminal record and has been treated for addictions and mental health issues, pleaded guilty to possession of a dangerous weapon and obstructing police in relation to the offence.
Other charges related to the incident were withdrawn, including assault with a weapon.
Longhorst was then released to the care of a Red Deer County business owner, who said he would provide her with a job and a place to live.
Judge Jim Mitchell delivered a series of admonitions to the woman, including warning her about the results she can expect the next time she finds herself in the back of a police car.
“Ordinary people don’t want to go downtown because of people like you,” Mitchell told the woman. He said the fact she has lived for a while in a seedier area of Vancouver speaks to her character.
“I’m not sure that we want you in Red Deer. You’ve got some deep-seated, long-standing issues,” he said.
“The good people of Red Deer are just fed up to their eyeballs with drug-addicted creeps (populating) the downtown.
“The RCMP in Red Deer now know you. With your record, the next time you get into the back of a police car, don’t expect to get released by police on a bail order. Expect to be headed to the remand centre again.”
Longhorst is under strict release conditions pending her return to court on Nov. 20 to face charges of theft and impersonating a police officer.
bkossowan@www.reddeeradvocate.com