A 35-year-old man who pleaded guilty July 30 to dangerous driving, driving while prohibited and obstructing a police officer more than two years ago was sentenced to another four months in jail.
But a judge in Prince George Provincial Court conceded Michael David Trosky would likely serve less time.
Court heard that officers from the Uniformed Gang Enforcement Team apprehended Trosky and two others after an intermittent chase on March 9, 2023.
Trosky had been driving a green Audi that the officers noticed near the North Star Hotel. When the vehicle ended up in a snowpack by a gas station and fast food restaurant near the Hart Highway, Trosky and the other two refused orders to exit the vehicle. Officers broke the windows and pulled them out.
Trosky, who has seven aliases, according to the online court file, initially gave police a false name. But an officer found his identification in the vehicle, along with drugs, cash, a knife and three mobile phones.
Trosky was in breach of an Alberta release order and driving prohibition at the time.
Court heard that he has 37 convictions, including eight for driving while prohibited or disqualified, three for dangerous driving and three for obstruction.
In an emotional statement, Trosky admitted his crime had been fuelled by drug addiction.
“It's taken me a long time to actually realize that the things that I'm doing are hurting me, my family, and many people that I don't even know,” Trosky said in court.
Brecknell said it is time for the Metis man to turn his life around. But he was not certain of his success.
“Either Mr. Trosky is a very good actor or he genuinely, genuinely believes that's where he wants to go,” Brecknell said “I accept that's where he wants to go. The question is, is he going to be able to get there? He's not going to be able to do it by himself.”
Brecknell sentenced Trosky to 14 months for dangerous driving. He qualified for 393 days of time served credit, leaving 32 days left to serve.
Brecknell also gave him 45 days concurrent for obstructing a police officer and 90 days consecutive for driving while prohibited. That meant his net sentence is 122 days.
“Do the math, you've been in custody before,” Brecknell said near the end of the hearing. “You'll be out in probably two-and-a-half months.”
After he is freed, Trosky will be on probation for a year. He must complete 30 hours of community work service, attend treatment as directed by a probation officer, must not occupy the driver’s seat of any vehicle and is banned from driving for three years.
