Speeders top docket as judge hands down fines at Rosetown court session
EAGLE STAFF
Speeders dominated the provincial court session at the Elks Hall on Oct. 23.
Judge Miguel Martinez also rescheduled a preliminary hearing for a man who didn’t show up for his previous one and is being held in jail. The second preliminary hearing for Corey Rushkewich is now scheduled for Jan. 8, with March 12 also reserved if a second day is needed. Rushkewich didn’t show up for the hearing on May 8 due to transportation problems and again on Sept. 12.
Police charged Rushkewich with pointing a gun at people and stealing a cellphone here on Nov. 11, 2023. He and another person also face charges of aggravated assault. They’ve chosen a Court of King’s Bench trial in front of a judge but no jury.
Judge Martinez fined Nathaniel J. Rose, 20, of Calgary, $1,033 after the man pleaded guilty through a lawyer to going 171 km/h near Harris on Oct. 12, 2024. A prosecutor withdrew two other tickets.
The judge fined Ashraful Islam, 30, of Winnipeg, a total of $800 — $500 instead of $870 for going 157 km/h near Harris on Aug. 20, and $300 instead of $580 for driving without reasonable consideration for others. “I don’t know why the wide-open spaces invite incredibly high speeds,” Judge Martinez said.
The judge convicted four people who didn't show up for scheduled speeding trials. He fined Sandy R. M. Mitri, 63, of Nanaimo, B.C., $787 for going 149 km/h near Zealandia on May 3; Yousef S. Omar, 25, of Saskatoon, $296 for going 134 km/h near Rosetown on Feb. 14; Graham S. Woodworth, 40, of Elrose, $196 for going 123 km/h near Tessier on May 28; and Jean Paul Hounjet, 63, of the Rural Municipality of Grant, $190 for going 120 km/h near McGee on March 5.
Judge Martinez fined Kohltyn G. J. Anderson, 23, of Eston, a total of $498 after the accused reached a resolution with a prosecutor over two speeding tickets — for going 130 km/h ($210) in the RM of St. Andrews on May 4 and for going 132 km/h on May 30 ($288). Anderson’s vehicle registered 140 km/h on May 30. He faced a charge of going at least 35 km/h over the limit. The voluntary payment for that was $570.
The judge fined Lavish Sally, 30, of Saskatoon, $400 after the accused reached an agreement with a prosecutor for speeding on Aug. 3 near Tessier. Police charged the person with going at least 35 km/h over the limit after the vehicle registered 136 km/h on radar. The voluntary fine was $558.
Judge Martinez fined Jesse A. Eby, 49, of Port Alberni, B.C., $308 for going 137 km/h on July 18 near Tessier. Judge Martinez refused to reduce the fine, saying the man had already received a break when the officer didn’t issue him a ticket for going at least 35 km/h over the limit.
The judge fined Troy Miller, 54, of Saskatoon, $100 for speeding after the man pleaded guilty as the registered owner in a deal with the prosecutor. Police caught the man going 125 km/h near Tessier on July 11. The voluntary fine was $200.