Mischief and threats land man probation

By Delon Shurtz - Lethbridge Herald on December 21, 2021.

LETHBRIDGE HERALDdshurtz@lethbridgeherald.com

A Lethbridge man who trashed a downtown restaurant last summer won’t have to spend any more time in jail, but he will be on probation for a year.
Matthew Todd Shouting pleaded guilty Monday in Lethbridge provincial court to single counts of mischief causing damage and uttering threats to cause death or bodily harm. He was sentenced to one day in jail on each charge, to run concurrently, but given credit for time served.
Court was told Shouting, who is homeless and struggles with alcohol and other issues, walked into a downtown restaurant July 2. When it was apparent he was not a paying customer, he was told to leave, but instead he “lost his temper,” and uttered threats.
“When he was told to leave, he did in fact walk outside, but then he came back in,” Crown Prosecutor Lisa Weich explained.
“He said he had a knife and threatened to stab the owner, the person who told him to get out, and he started shouting and throwing the tables and restaurant paraphernalia.”
Weich said Shouting, who has previous convictions for mischief and violence, caused about $80 in damage.
Defence said Shouting was intoxicated at the time, and while that’s not an excuse, he is remorseful for his conduct that day.
“He fully recognizes when he drinks, it’s an issue,” his lawyer said, but added Shouting promises to obey the only condition of probation, which is to stay away from the restaurant.
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