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http://www.calgaryherald.com/news/Calgary+...5501/story.html

 

A father faces jail time for punching the principal at his son's southeast elementary school and knocking her to the ground in a fit of anger.

 

Robert Gary Piche, 41, pleaded guilty Tuesday to assaulting Sharon Hanwell on Dec. 13, 2007, after he and the child's mother were called to West Dover elementary and told their son was being suspended for three days for disciplinary reasons.

 

Crown prosecutor Richelle Freiheit, citing the accused's criminal record, which includes six prior assaults and one count of uttering threats, said she would seek a sentence of four to six months in jail.

 

"The accused came at the principal, striking her in the head and upper torso area,"Freiheit told provincial court Judge Terry Semenuk.

 

"He admitted he struck her at least four times. She fell to the ground with the accused on top of her."

 

Freiheit said the accused's wife assisted in stopping him from continuing the attack.

 

Freiheit said Hanwell sustained a swollen cheek and suffered redness to her right cheek, above the right eye and forehead, as well as bruising to her arms and head.

 

Defence lawyer Sheldon Kaupp, who argued for a sentence of three to six months, said Piche had suffered abuse while attending an aboriginal residential school and was concerned his son was being subjected to similar treatment.

 

"Certain behavioural problems were not being dealt with by the school . . . that was the perception of Mr. Piche. There was a history of alleged misbehaviour of the three children," Kaupp said.

 

"He said you can't have his son in small rooms, because of the type of abuse he suffered as a child."

 

The boy was in the washroom being monitored by staff at the time they arrived, court heard.

 

Hanwell told the court in a victim impact statement she has recovered from the physical injuries, but the school has since had to change the way it does things.

 

Hanwell also said she was frustrated the actions of one individual has focused so much negative media attention on the school.

 

"I'm angry we have to have extra security and that visitors are less welcome," she said. "I'm frustrated time has been taken away, from learning to deal with this."

 

Semenuk accepted the guilty plea but declined sentencing until he has seen pre-sentence and psychological/psychiatric reports.

 

Sentencing was adjourned until April 30.

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