Barrage of threats and property offences net seven month sentence

By Delon Shurtz - Lethbridge Herald on August 19, 2022.

LETHBRIDGE HERALDdshurtz@lethbridgeherald.com

Cyril Stephen Shugarue seemed normal enough when he first met his girlfriend, and even later when he moved in with her. Then the nightmare began.

Shugarue went “crazy,” the woman told police, and he threatened to rape and kill her and to kill other people, as well.

Shugarue pleaded guilty Thursday in Lethbridge provincial court to charges of threats to cause death or bodily harm, criminal harassment, unauthorized possession of a firearm, taking a motor vehicle without the owner’s consent, threats to cause damage and failure to comply with release conditions. He was sentenced to seven months in jail, minus eight days for pre-trial custody, and will be on probation for two years after he is released, during which time he must comply with several conditions including he not possess any weapons or consume alcohol and drugs. He must also take counselling for domestic violence, anger management and substance abuse, and he is not to have any contact with his former girlfriend.

Shugarue had previously told the woman he would never comply with that condition.

On July 5 the woman told Cardston RCMP that Shugarue had taken her cellphone and vehicle after they had argued the night before. She told police Shugarue owned a 22-calibre rifle, which he had acquired through some “back alley” dealings in Edmonton, and for which he doesn’t have a licence. Police found the rifle, as well as an extendable baton, in a padlocked room of her residence, and they determined Shugarue did not have a licence for the gun.

At about 9:20 p.m. the next day, the woman received a text message from Shugarue threatening to burn her car and get back at her any way he can. He also said “there weren’t any no-contact conditions that would keep him from coming after her.”

She told police Shugarue told her she had bitten off more than she could chew, that she had underestimated him with her “small brain,” and there would be consequences when she least expects them.

“Trust me, when it’s all said and done, we will see who comes out on top,” Shugarue texted.

Shugarue was arrested and charged, then subsequently released on bail and ordered not to have any contact with his former girlfriend.

Last Saturday, however, Cardston RCMP contacted Lethbridge RCMP for assistance in investigating death threats against the woman. Police found Shugarue at a hotel on Mayor Magrath Drive South and arrested him on outstanding warrants. He was also arrested on new charges of uttering threats and breaching a release order. While he was being arrested he told police he had guns under the hotel bed, but police didn’t find any.

“He made comments that he was planning on killing someone; said he was a violent person and that he had killed several times before,” Crown Prosecutor Bruce Ainscough told court. “He continued to explain that he has cut the head off of a person in the past, and that he had never been charged for that offence. (He) said he had brought that homicide up to many police officers in the past but no one had ever charged him. He continued to say ‘I’ll kill her and then we will see how serious police take me. I’m a lifelong criminal and there is no changing me.’ “

Shugarue refused to answer many of the questions posed by police during his arrest, and said “you know that no court in the country will find me criminally responsible for anything that I do. I have killed before and I will kill again, and no court can convict me.”

Ainscough noted Shugarue was sober at the time of this statement.

Following his arrest police obtained a detailed statement from the woman, who said she had been receiving text messages and threats from Shugarue for a long time. In a more recent text he said he was going to “gut every one of them like an animal,” and he would get the Hell’s Angels to help him.

“When they are done I assure you you will never be in a position to speak or see again. There will never be enough of you to be found.”

Ainscough said the woman is terrified of the accused and concerned for her safety.

Shugarue, who has a criminal record with convictions for spousal assault, uttering threats, assault causing bodily harm, assaulting a peace officer and assault with a weapon, suffers from bipolar disorder, Lethbridge lawyer Miranda Hlady told court. She said he is taking responsibility for his actions and does not offer any excuses for his behaviour.

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