Man apologizes for repeated domestic violence-related crimes

Richard Aelick repeatedly assaulted, harassed and threatened a one-time domestic partner, a judge heard Tuesday.

Over and over again, he defied court orders prohibiting him from going to her residence or communicating with her.

Aelick, 30, pleaded guilty to 13 charges, 10 of which stemmed from domestic violence-related incidents, when he appeared in a Sault Ste. Marie courtroom.

The domestic offences occurred between July 2022 and March of this year.

He also was convicted of theft for stealing his sister's vehicle on Sept. 2, 2018 and failing to attend court two months later on Nov. 8.

Ontario Court Justice Heather Mendes heard the accused assaulted his partner on July 17 and 18 of last year.

Police responded to a call about a domestic dispute at 2:15 a.m. on the 18th, where a woman was arguing with her boyfriend, prosecutor Blair Hagan told the court.

She said Aelick punched her in the face earlier in the morning of the 17th, and later when he returned home from a bar after 1 a.m. he shoved her head against a wall.

The victim was pregnant at the time, the assistant Crown attorney said.

On Oct. 31, he showed up at her residence, became embroiled in a verbal dispute with the woman, and stole $20 from her.

At the time, he was bound by a release order not to communicate with her, Hagan told the judge.

As well, Aelick was not to be within 50 metres of the woman.

On Dec. 3, police were again contacted about the accused, who had been knocking on the door of the woman's home in the Sault.

He then attempted to get inside through a basement window, again violating his release order.

A month later, four days into 2023, Aelick failed to attend court.

Once again, on March 11, of this year, he didn't comply with his release order, and showed up at her residence.

Aelick was arrested two weeks later for again breaching the order.

The Crown and defence lawyer Jessica Belisle jointly recommended a sentence of time served, plus two years probation, for the domestic offences.

A suspended sentence should be imposed for the the thefts, they suggested.

Belisle said her client, the father of five, struggles with addiction issues, and is remorseful about what occurred with the victim, the mother of one of his children.

During his time in custody, Aelick has completed four programs, including substance abuse and anger management courses, she told Mendes.

Incarceration also "has driven home that court orders are to be abided by," Belisle said

The time Aelick has spent in pre-sentence custody __ the equivalent of six months __ is appropriate, Hagan said.

Two years probation "hopefully will help him address his issues," the prosecutor said.

"I'm very sorry," an emotional Aelick told Mendes, indicating he's not proud of himself.

"You are youthful and have a long road ahead of you," the judge noted when she imposed the sentences.

During his probation, he must take the Partner Assault Response program (counselling for domestic violence), as well as a parenting course.

Aelick can no have no contact with his victim or his sister, without their written revocable consent, and must stay 100 metres away from their residences or anywhere they are.

Mendes ordered him to provide a DNA sample for the national registry.

She also imposed a five-year weapons prohibition.