Ex-speedskate champion from Iqaluit jailed six months
Young man, 22, acquires 52 adult convictions
Justice Robert Kilpatrick sentenced Matthew Haslem of Iqaluit to six months in jail Jan. 10 for escaping legal custody, drug possession, and breach of a probation order, following a sentencing hearing held at the Nunavut Court of Justice
Haslem, 22, originally from Pangnirtung, is a former security guard and championship speed skater who won a gold medal at the Arctic Winter Games.
But Haslem has already collected 52 adult convictions — 46 prior to Jan. 10 and six new ones — primarily for drug and alcohol-related offences, Kilpatrick said in court.
His most recent troubles started in November of 2011, when Haslem was arrested a number of times in Iqaluit and charged with various alcohol and drug offenses.
Each time Haslem was released and ordered to stay away from alcohol, it wasn’t long before he found himself in trouble again.
On Dec. 19, RCMP arrested Haslem at his girlfriend’s resident for being intoxicated and in breach of his probation.
When police took him to the RCMP detachment he complained about chest pains and was transferred to Qikiqtani General Hospital, where he was examined and released back into police custody.
While Haslem was being led to a police van he broke free from his RCMP escort.
Despite an extensive search Haslem managed to elude police for 12 hours until he was found hiding at the elders’ centre, where he was said to know someone living there.
Haslem has been in custody at the Baffin Correctional Centre since his arrest, where he will serve the remainder of his six-month sentence.
In sentencing Haslem, Kilpatrick recognized the negative impact that alcohol abuse has had on Haslem’s life but said that it is no excuse for his actions and implored him to seek counselling to “regain control of his life”.
