By Kellah Lavoie

Man to sentenced to five years for sending common-law into the cold on Christmas

Oct 13, 2010 | 6:35 AM

Clifford Arnold Daniels will spend the next four years in the Saskatchewan Penitentiary.
The 52-year-old was sentenced yesterday to five years minus time served and a half, leaving him with another four years and two months to serve behind bars.
He was found guilty of assault causing bodily harm, unlawful confinement and threats after sending his common-law wife out into the cold on Christmas day without clothes.
The woman suffered injuries including a dislocated shoulder and frost-bitten feet. It took her months to recover.
“He has a long history of assault and violent behaviour against woman who are his partners,” Crown prosecutor Maureen Longworth told the court.
She asked Judge Stephen Carter to sentence Daniels to five years. She explained the man abused his position of trust and control with the victim.
She told the judge that Daniels needs to be put away to protect the public, including the victim and “protecting his potential domestic partners as the public.”
Chandra Tannis, legal aid, told the court he should be given two years less a day and a lengthy probation period.
She explained he was still dealing with the effects of residential school and mentioned he has family who is willing to support him while pointing out the five members of his family who were sitting in the gallery.
His sister, Jennifer Ermine, stood up and told the court that she relies on her brother.
“When I depend on him he is there for me,” she told the court. “I always see the good side of him.”
Tannis said the victim still keeps in contact with them and presented the court with letters from the victim and a sign-in sheet from the Prince Albert Correctional Centre showing she came to visit him.
Longworth explained the victim is likely “caught up in the throes of domestic abuse.”
Tannis brought in new case law showing where assaults there were more violent in nature received lesser sentences.
Before Carter told Daniels his fate, Daniels addressed the court and said “I made a lot of bad decisions before and I made a lot of bad choices… and I am sorry for that.”
Carter referred to the events of last Christmas as “horrific and methodical” and called them “frightening.”
“I hope this will deter you from other types of offenses,” Carter said.
Daniels will serve concurrent sentences for his crimes. He received five years, minus time served and a half, for assault causing bodily harm, two years for unlawful confinement and two years for threats.
klavoie@rawlco.com