Protective mom gets probation for uttering threats

By Delon Shurtz - Lethbridge Herald on March 14, 2023.

LETHBRIDGE HERALDdshurtz@lethbridgeherald.com

An overly protective mother who went too far to keep her son away from his friends, has been placed on probation for the next several months.

Amanda Willow Schaaf was handed a suspended sentence and put on probation for six months after she pleaded guilty in Lethbridge provincial court to a charge of uttering threats to cause death or bodily harm.

Schaaf, court was told, made the threats to several people whom she believed were a bad influence on her 19-year-old son.

The charge stems from “a “chronicle of some family breakdowns” that culminated in an incident a year ago following a “graphic” falling out between the son and his parents.

Crown prosecutor Clayton Giles said Schaaf and her partner were “very protective” of their son, and when they saw him hanging out with a group of friends they became concerned the friends were taking him away from his family.

On Feb. 12, 2022, the parents showed up at a location where the friends had gathered, and a conflict ensued.

“Much yelling and vulgarity was used,” Giles explained, adding that Schaaf yelled at the five young persons, including her son, and said their house would be rolled up on.

“Which ultimately means a group of people…might attend at the house where all of these people were and do violent things.”

Gile said nothing came of the threat, but Schaaf’s son and his friends took it seriously and feared for their safety.

“They remain fearful to this day.”

Duty counsel lawyer Brett Carlson agreed with the Crown’s explanation for the parents’ conduct, but added the parents simply reacted inappropriately.

“I think my friend has fairly typified this as parents being extremely concerned about what is happening with their son and who he’s running with,” Carlson said. “It went beyond what they intended to do when they went to that house.”

During her period of probation, Schaaf is not to have any contact with any of the individuals, including her son, and she is not to go within 200 metres of their home in the 3000 block of 6 Avenue South. Her partner previously also received a suspended sentence for his involvement in the incident.

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