Article contentRyant said a member of the public provided police with video showing a porch on Larch Street that was packed with young people, including Wamboldt.Article content“Mr. Wamboldt is seen in the video holding a knife in his right hand,” the prosecutor said. “At one point, Mr. Wamboldt nearly touches another person with the knife on the porch.”Article contentThat person, a young man, was interviewed by police. He told them Wamboldt was waving the knife around “like a crazy person.”Article contentHe said that when he asked Wamboldt if he was OK, Wambolt replied that he was better than OK and “started screaming like a madman.”Article contentRyant said that at another point in the video, Wamboldt’s knife comes close to a young woman’s leg.Article contentThe videos were played in court during the sentencing hearing.Article contentRyant said the terms of the conditional discharge would meet the primary sentencing objectives of denunciation and deterrence while also assisting with Wamboldt’s rehabilitation and ensuring he never engages in such “reckless” conduct again.Article contentArticle contentWamboldt graduated from high school, has some post-secondary education and works in the construction industry.Article contentBoutet said the incident happened about two years after his client was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder as a result of severe bullying.Article contentHe urged the judge to accept the proposed sentence, which he said would help Wamboldt “heal from his past and move on and essentially never be in front of the court again.”Article contentWamboldt told Simmons he was sorry for wasting the court’s time.Article content“I just want to apologize for any hurt or harm that could have been caused to the community,” he said.Article contentThe judge said the behaviour she saw on the videos was “disturbing.”Article content“You just looked totally out of control on the video, completely different than the young man who’s speaking with me right now,” Simmons said.Article content“I agree,” Wamboldt replied.Article contentArticle contentShe encouraged Wamboldt to be honest with himself about whether he should drink alcohol.Article content“Some people drink alcohol and fall asleep in the corner,” the judge said. “Other people drink alcohol and they become funny, the life of the party. And yet others drink alcohol and they turn into different people, and they just shouldn’t consume alcohol.”Article contentWhile on probation, Wamboldt must perform 50 hours of community service and participate in counselling for mental health issues, substance abuse and gambling addiction as directed by his probation officer.Article contentHe is prohibited from possessing any weapons and can only use a knife for food preparation or consumption, or in the immediate course of his employment.Article contentSimmons said Homecoming is “a happy tradition.”Article content“But Homecoming with that number of people behaving in that fashion in residential areas of our city is not a happy tradition,” she said.Article contentShe said the sentence should send a message to Wamboldt and others “that there will be a consequence for this sort of behaviour, and it will be in the context of the criminal justice system.Article content“The administration of justice takes this very seriously.”Article content
New Brunswick man handed conditional discharge for brandishing knife during 2022 Halifax street party
