Mom who pleaded guilty in son's death in Ontario's Grand River gets 2-year conditional sentence
CBC
A mother who pleaded guilty to criminal negligence causing death in her son's drowning in the Grand River in Ontario in 2018 has been given a two-year conditional sentence during a virtual hearing Tuesday.
Michelle Hanson, 38, was charged after three-year-old Kaden Young died during heavy flooding on Feb. 21, 2018, near Hanson's then home west of Orangeville, about 60 kilometres northwest of Toronto. She pleaded guilty in November.
She appeared via video from Stephenville, N.L., where she moved in December 2020, the sentencing hearing was told.
Hanson will spend the first 18 months of her conditional sentence under house arrest. She'll only be allowed to leave her home for medical emergencies or appointments, employment or with written permission from the conditional sentence supervisor. She is also permitted to leave the house on Mondays between 12 p.m. and 4 p.m. to get the "necessities of life."
For the last six months of the sentence, Hanson will be able to leave her home, but has a curfew between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. daily.
She cannot drive during the next two years. As well, she must attend grief and addictions counselling sessions.
After the two years, Hanson will be on probation for one year, during which time she will need to regularly check in with a probation officer, and continue to attend grief and addictions counselling.
She also will not be allowed to drive for the three years after her conditional sentence, for a total nationwide driving ban of five years.
During sentencing on Tuesday, Justice Giselle Miller said Hanson should be given credit for pleading guilty to her son's death.
"I understand that it took Ms. Hanson quite some time to come to accept her responsibility in her son's death, but she has done so. She is given credit for accepting that responsibility and for her expression of remorse in doing so."
The court heard Tuesday that just after midnight on Feb. 21, 2018, Hanson drove with her son while under the influence of alcohol. Hanson had put her son, who was having trouble sleeping, in the van and started to drive to a convenience store in the nearby town of Grand Valley.
Earlier in the day, road closure barriers had been put up on 10th Line of Amaranth near Hanson's home because of rising waters in the Grand River and the potential for flooding. That night, Hanson drove around the barrier and into a flooded section of the roadway. The van was pulled into the river by the strong current.
Kaden was in his car seat when the van went into the river. Hanson was able to get him out of the car seat and the van, but lost her grip on him as they were swept down river.
At 12:52 a.m. ET that day, police responded to a 911 call that a vehicle had entered the Grand River in Amaranth, west of Orangeville.
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