CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. — A Miscouche woman who went off the road while driving drunk during a snowstorm was sentenced recently to seven days in jail.
Courtney Lynn Johnston, 23, appeared before Judge Nancy Orr in provincial court in Charlottetown for sentencing after previously pleading guilt to drunk driving.
Crown attorney John Diamond told the court that on Jan. 2, there was a snowstorm and road conditions were poor when Johnston decided to drive home.
Diamond said Johnston went off the road into a ditch near Hunter River at around 7:10 p.m.
Johnston later provided breathalyzer samples that were more than 1.5 times the legal limit.
The matter had to be adjourned after Johnston entered the guilty plea because no beds were available at the jail due to COVID-19 restrictions.
When her case was called again several days later, defence lawyer Justin Milne said Johnston acknowledged she had an underlying issue with alcohol.
Milne said she has sought treatment and continues to go to group therapy meetings.
Along with the jail time, Orr fined Johnston $1,500, ordered her to pay a $450 victim surcharge and banned her from driving for one year.
Ryan Ross is The Guardian's justice reporter.
