Uttering threats lands accused two-month sentence

By Delon Shurtz on September 21, 2022.

LETHBRIDGE HERALDdshurtz@lethbridgeherald.com

A chance encounter earlier this year with a former girlfriend has netted a Lethbridge man a two-month jail sentence.

Scott Eugene Conine was sentenced Monday in Lethbridge provincial court after pleading guilty to one count of uttering threats to cause death or bodily harm.

On March 27 Conine encountered the woman, with whom he previously had a relationship for nearly 20 years, at a southside gas station. Crown Prosecutor Clayton Giles said the relationship had “disintegrated” and when the former couple met by chance outside the gas station, Conine became aggressive.

“He said to her, ‘I told you that if I couldn’t have you, then nobody could’, or words to that effect,” Giles said, adding Conine’s comments were clearly intended to make the woman fear for her life or at least her safety.

“She was threatened, she was scared, that was the end of it.”

Giles pointed out Conine, 43, has an “unenviable” adult criminal record, with convictions for domestic and non-domestic assault, which dates back to 2004.

“Mr. Conine has had a grave amount of difficulty for a long time, particularly in relation to violence, and also particularly in relation to domestic violence.”

“This was an unfortunate interaction,” Lethbridge lawyer Vincent Guinan told court.

He said the relationship, during which the couple had four children, ended long ago, and Conine regrets his actions the day he threatened her.

“The guilty plea here is demonstrative of remorse.”

Although sentenced to 60 days in jail, Conine has been held in remand since his arrest on Aug. 4 and was given credit for that time in custody, effectively concluding his sentence. He was also placed on probation for one year, during which he is not to have any contact with the victim, report as directed to probation, and not have any weapons.

An additional charge of assault in relation to the incident was withdrawn, but Conine still faces several unrelated charges, including assault with a weapon, uttering threats, possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose, and possession of a prohibited firearm. He returns to court on those matters Thursday.

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