Man gets jail time for assaulting girlfriend

By Delon Shurtz on September 14, 2021.

LETHBRIDGE HERALDdshurtz@lethbridgeherald.com

A 35-year-old man will spend some time behind bars for breaking his girlfriend’s jaw during an argument a year ago.
Travis Todd Good Rider was intoxicated when he and his girlfriend got into an argument last September. Good Rider struck the woman in the face with his fist, breaking her jaw and one of her teeth.
Good Rider had pleaded not guilty to a charge of aggravated assault, but Friday in Lethbridge provincial court he changed his plea to guilty and was sentenced to six months in jail.
Defence explained Good Rider — who has a lengthy criminal record — has struggled with alcohol most of his life, as did his parents, and he was removed from his home numerous times because of “alcohol issues.” Although his father is still alive, his mother died in 2015, and both attended the government’s residential schools. 
Lethbridge lawyer Darcy Shurtz said Good Rider is working with a counselor, and he hopes to get into Lander Treatment Centre in Claresholm after he is released from jail.
“He does recognize alcohol is an issue,” Shurtz said. “He recognizes when he’s drinking, that’s usually when he gets into trouble.”
In addition to his six-month jail sentence, for which he was given credit for the equivalent of nearly four months spent in pre-trial custody, Good Rider will also be on probation for a year after he is released. During that time he must not have any contact with the victim and not mention her on any social media sites. He must also submit a sample of his DNA for the National DNA Databank, and he is prohibited from possessing certain weapons for 10 years, and others for life.

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