NEWS FILE PHOTO The Medicine Hat Courthouse is seen in this file photo.
jappel@medicinehatnews.com@MHNJeremyAppel
A man who pled guilty to helping forcibly confine a woman while two co-accused – including his mother – beat, robbed and extorted her, has been sentenced to six months in custody.
Crown prosecutor Connor Doyle said that while the incident in question is “incredibly serious,” Matthew Babitzke played a relatively minor role.
He was arrested along with his mother, Theresa, and Amanda Kaye following an Oct. 24, 2018 incident, where they held a woman captive in a house in the city’s southeast by tying her to a chair before beating her with an iron pipe, robbing and attempting to extort her.
When police arrived, the victim’s right eye was bruised, she had a bloody nose and wasn’t wearing shoes.
Police said at the time of the trio’s Oct. 26 arrest they believe the incident was drug-related.
According to the Crown, Matthew arrived near the end of the incident.
The victim was able to call police quickly before hanging up. When the police called back, Matthew answered the phone and said it was a misdial.
He then set her free.
In their initial court appearance on Oct. 30, court heard that Matthew is a recovering alcoholic who “swapped one addiction for another” when he moved in with his mother, a methamphetamine dealer.
Matthew pled guilty to a single count of unlawful confinement, while Theresa pled guilty to unlawful confinement and trafficking meth.
Her sentencing is scheduled for tomorrow.
Kaye faces charges of robbery, unlawful confinement, extortion and assault with a weapon, as well as breaches in connection with other offences. She also appears in court tomorrow.
A victim impact statement was provided to court Tuesday, but was not read aloud.
Judge Ted Fischer said the statement “reiterates what serious impacts this can have on an individual.”
With 93 days credited for time served, Babitzke will serve another 87 days in intermittent custody on weekends.
