Kiel Robert Stewart, 37, was sentenced on July 28 for punching another inmate at the Provincial Correctional Centre. Photo by File /The GuardianArticle contentPunching another inmate in the face while in custody at the Provincial Correctional Centre has resulted in a short jail sentence for a P.E.I. man.THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY.Subscribe now to access this story and more:Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsSUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES.Subscribe or sign in to your account to continue your reading experience.Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsRegister to unlock more articles.Create an account or sign in to continue your reading experience.Access additional stories every monthShare your thoughts and join the conversation in our commenting communityGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an AccountorArticle contentKiel Robert Stewart, 37, pleaded guilty and was sentenced on July 28 in provincial court in Charlottetown for a charge of common assault. Stewart appeared in court by video from the Provincial Correctional Centre.Article contentArticle contentArticle contentThe factsArticle contentIn terms of the facts, Crown attorney John Diamond told the court that on June 1, Stewart and another inmate, Phillip Francois Boudreau, were in a common area at the Provincial Correctional Centre. Words were exchanged between the two.Article contentStewart punched Boudreau in the face and knocked him to the ground. Boudreau got up and what followed was a consensual fight between the two men until they were separated by jail staff. Diamond explained that it was the initial punch by Stewart that led to the assault charge. Stewart had a prior criminal record.Article contentSaskatoon-based defence lawyer Brian Pfefferle provided further context on the assault. Pfefferle said that Boudreau was telling people that Stewart was a police informant. Pfefferle said that the accusation wasn’t true but still led to Stewart feeling compelled to respond. As a result of the incident, Stewart also lost privileges at the jail, such as using the gym facilities, for five days.Article contentArticle contentFive-month sentenceArticle contentArticle contentBoudreau was serving a five-month sentence imposed on March 11 for uttering threats to cause death to provincial court Chief Judge Jeff Lantz and to a female probation officer and breach of probation. Boudreau pleaded guilty to threatening the probation officer. He pleaded not guilty to threatening Lantz but was convicted by Judge Nancy Orr of that charge after a trial. Boudreau was released from custody at the jail on June 12.Article contentStewart is currently in custody while he has other charges in P.E.I. Supreme Court. Those charges – drug possession for trafficking purposes, breaching a driving ban and failing to comply with a release condition – are scheduled to be back in P.E.I. Supreme Court on Aug. 7. Pfefferle is also representing Stewart in those matters.Article contentJoint recommendationArticle contentFor the assault, Orr accepted a joint recommendation from Diamond and Pfefferle and sentenced Stewart to three days in jail and 12 months of probation. Stewart is not allowed to have contact with Boudreau during the probation period unless he has prior written permission from a probation officer.Article contentArticle contentTerrence McEachern is a justice reporter for The Guardian in Prince Edward Island. He can be reached at tmceachern@postmedia.com.Article content
P.E.I. man sentenced for punching another inmate at provincial jail
