Woman pleads guilty, gets six months for incident that involved hatchet threats and a break-in

By Peggy Revell on November 9, 2017.

A guilty plea was entered Wednesday by one of two people arrested following reports of a hatchet attack then break and enter, while the second person allegedly involved was denied bail.

Elizabeth Racette received a six-month sentence for charges of housebreaking with intent, mischief causing damage under $5,000 and breaching release conditions, and was given credit of 32 days due to time spent in custody during her appearance at the Medicine Hat Courthouse.

Meanwhile, defence counsel for Racette’s co-accused, Steven Fontaine, held a bail hearing, with Judge Ted Fisher siding with the Provincial Crown and denying the 34-year-old man’s release.

According to the agreed statement of facts read during Racette’s sentencing, police were called to the downtown area near the Tim Hortons following reports of a hatchet attack on Oct. 18. Racette and her co-accused were the ones involved in this situation.

They were intoxicated and fled the scene, going to a nearby apartment building and demanding to be let inside. The resident refused to let them in, but the pair continued to bang on the front door, and then back door.

Fontaine allegedly then head-butted the glass at the door, breaking it.

A friend of the resident came outside, trying to get them to leave. At this point, Racette picked up and began swinging around an ornamental bird bath. It’s alleged Fontaine was swinging around a glass bottle threateningly. Racette grabbed the man but he managed to get free and ran back inside. The pair allegedly followed, yelling and asking where a woman was and threatening her, also attempting to kick in the door of a bedroom that belonged to another resident.

Fontaine is charged with housebreaking with intent, assault with a weapon, two counts of mischief causing damage under $5,000, and three breaches of his release conditions. His next appearance is Nov. 14.

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