Entries by Mike Mines

R. v. A.S. – Vancouver Provincial Court

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Charges: B & E, Fraud over $5000, Motor vehicle theft; Identity theft, Driving while prohibited (x2).

Issue: Given our client’s personal circumstances and rehabilitative efforts, what would be the appropriate sentence.

Result:  Mr. Johnston was able to persuade Crown to make a joint submission for time-served, followed by a period of probation. The Crown directed stays of proceedings on several charges.  After hearing Mr. Johnston’s submissions on our client’s behalf, the sentencing judge noted that he would have ordinarily imposed a lengthy jail sentence for an accused in our client’s position, but he accepted the joint submission. No further jail.

R. v. M.A.K. – Vancouver Provincial Court

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Charge: Possession of fentanyl and carfentanil for the purposes of trafficking.

Issue: Given the information Mr. Johnston provided to Crown counsel regarding our client’s personal circumstances and the circumstances of the alleged offence, whether it was appropriate to proceed with a criminal prosecution.

Result: Mr. Johnston was able to persuade the Crown that there were issues with respect to the Crown’s evidence such that it was unlikely our client would be convicted at trial, and that there was insufficient public interest in continuing to prosecute our client in any case. Given this informaton, the Crown directed a stay of proceedings on the charge. No criminal record.

R. v. S.B. – Vancouver Provincial Court

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Charge: Carrying a Concealed Weapon.

Issue: Given the information Mr. Johnston was able to provide to Crown counsel regarding the circumstances of the incident and our client’s background, whether it was in the public interest to proceed with a criminal prosecution.

Result: Mr. Johnston persuaded Crown counsel that there was insufficient public interest, leading Crown to enter a stay of proceedings. No criminal record.

R. v. M.A. Insurance Fraud Investigation

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Charge: Insurance Fraud Under $5000.

Issue: Given our client’s rehabilitation and repayment of the disputed funds, whether it was in the public interest to proceed with a criminal prosecution.

Result: Mr. Gauthier was able to persuade the insurance company to settle the matter on a civil basis. No criminal charges were forwarded. No criminal record.

R. v. E.N. – North Vancouver Provincial Court

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Charge: Fraud Under $5000.

Issue: Given the information Mr. Gauthier provided to Crown counsel regarding our client’s personal circumstances and the circumstances of the alleged offence, whether it was appropriate to proceed with a criminal prosecution.

Result: Mr. Gauthier was able to persuade Crown that there wa sno substantial likelihood of a conviction resulting ultimately in Crown declining to approve a charge. No criminal record.

R. v. E.N. – North Vancouver Provincial Court

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Charge: Mischief Under $5000.

Issue: Given the information Mr. Gauthier provided to Crown counsel regarding our client’s personal circumstances and the circumstances of the alleged offence, whether it was appropriate to proceed with a criminal prosecution.

Result: Mr. Gauthier was able to persuade Crown that there was no substantial likelihood of a conviction resulting ultimately in Crown declining to approve a charge. No criminal record.

R. v. K.D. – Vancouver Provincial Court

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Charges: Failing to Remain at the Scene of an Accident.

Issue: Whether our client’s Charter rights were breached due to unreasonable delay.

Result: Mr. Mines was able to provide information to Crown counsel that ultimately caused Crown  to proceed against our client as the owner and not the driver of the vehicle. He plead to the lesser charge of Failing to Remain under the Motor Vehicle Act and received a fine, but no driving prohibition. No criminal record.

R. v. H.C. – Vancouver Provincial Court

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Charges: Sexual Assault; Sexual Interference.

Issue: Whether the complainant held herself out to be at least 16 years of age and whether our client took reasonable steps to ascertain her age.

Result: Mr. Mines was able to provide information to Crown counsel on our client’s behalf that established that our client did take reasonable steps to ascertain the complainant’s age. In the result, Crown declined to approve any criminal charges. No criminal record.

R. v. A.L. – Vancouver Provincial Court

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Charges: Tax Evasion (Excise Tax Act); Fraud Over $5000 x2.

Issue: Given our client’s cooperation with the investigation, his civil settlement and his genuine remorse, whether a jail sentence was appropriate for this almost one million dollar tax evasion case.

Result: Mr. Mines was able to provide medical and financial information to Crown counsel that ultimately led Crown to proceed on the fraud charges rather than seeking an almost one million dollar mandatory fine under the Excise Tax Act. The Court accepted the joint submission for a 2 year less a day conditional sentence and probation. No jail.

R. v. A.R. – Vancouver Provincial Court

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Charges: Assault (reduced to Peace Bond).

Issue: Given the rehabilitative steps we were able to guide our client through, whether it was in the public interest continue with a criminal prosecution.

Result: Mr. Mines was able to persuade Crown counsel to proceed with a Peace Bond rather than the criminal assault charge. No criminal record.