Dennis Stiles, a Barrie man, was sentenced to a year in prison for driving under the influence and crashing into another vehicle in Springwater Township in 2022, causing bodily harm. Stiles was convicted on Tuesday of driving under the influence causing bodily harm.Dennis Stiles, a Barrie man, was sentenced to a year in prison for driving under the influence and crashing into another vehicle in Springwater Township in 2022, causing bodily harm. Stiles was convicted on Tuesday of driving under the influence causing bodily harm. The court heard that Stiles was driving with a G2 license at the time of the accident and was weaving through oncoming traffic. The other driver was seriously injured, but Stiles was not, despite his vehicle being engulfed in flames. The Crown prosecutor argued for an 18-month sentence followed by probation and a five-year driving ban, while the defense sought a suspended sentence under house arrest and a two-year driving ban. Judge Raymond Williams stated that a suspended sentence would send the wrong message to the community, Mr. Stiles, and potential drink-driving drivers. He found Stiles’ moral reprehensibility “extraordinarily high” and explained that the case was a stark reminder of how crime can destroy a life. Ultimately, the judge ordered Stiles to serve a year in prison, the lowest possible sentence appropriate under the circumstances. Stiles’ lawyer admitted that it was a miracle no one was killed in the crash. Judge Williams also imposed 18 months’ probation on Stiles and a three-year driving ban following his time in custody, wishing him the best of luck.
A Barrie man will spend a year behind bars after pleading guilty to driving under the influence and crashing head-on into another vehicle in Springwater Township in 2022.
Dennis Stiles was convicted Tuesday of driving under the influence causing bodily harm in the crash on Highway 26 near Strongville Road 2½ years ago.
The court heard that Stiles was driving with a G2 licence at the time of the accident and that he was weaving through oncoming traffic.
The other driver was seriously injured, but Stiles was not seriously injured, although his vehicle was engulfed in flames.
The Crown had argued that Stiles should be sentenced to 18 months behind bars, followed by probation and a five-year driving ban. The defence countered with a suspended sentence under house arrest and a two-year driving ban.
“It’s heartbreaking to think how badly this could have ended,” Judge Raymond Williams said. “I think a suspended sentence would send the wrong message to the community, the wrong message to Mr. Stiles and the wrong message to potential drink-driving drivers.”
Williams told Stiles that he found his moral reprehensibility “extraordinarily high” and that the conditional sentence sought by the defense was not appropriate in this case. The judge explained that the case was a “stark reminder of how crime can destroy a life.”
In a Barrie courtroom, the judge ultimately ordered Stiles to serve a year in prison, which he said was the lowest possible sentence appropriate under the circumstances.
Under the Criminal Code, the maximum penalty is two years minus one day.
Stiles’ lawyer, Matthew Giesinger, admitted at last month’s hearing in Bradford that it was a miracle no one was killed in the crash.
“It’s not easy to give someone a year in prison, especially someone who has no criminal record and who has pleaded guilty,” Williams said. “I thought long and hard about this.”
The judge also imposed 18 months’ probation on Stiles and a three-year driving ban following his time in custody.
“I wish you the best of luck,” he concluded.
