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Spitfires' Star in Legal Limbo

by Dave Hall

Wednesday, October 25, 2000

Sewell awaits disposition of missed curfew charge Joey Sewell of the Windsor Spitfires was released into the custody of general manager Mike Kelly Tuesday but still faces another court appearance Friday. Sewell appeared in front of justice of the peace Dave Hebert, who approved a joint submission by prosecutor Frank Schwalm and defence lawyer Pat Ducharme that Sewell be released pending disposition of his breach of conditions of a sentence charge. "I'd prefer not to comment until the whole situation has been resolved," Sewell said after spending eight hours in police custody Monday. Ducharme plans to meet today with prosecutor Randy Semeniuk to try to reach an agreement to present to an Ontario Court justice on Friday. "Getting Joey released today was significant because it's a serious charge," Ducharme said. "I'm only one part of the equation but I'd like to find some common ground with the prosecutor's office before Friday." In the meantime, Sewell is still a member of the Spitfires and is expected to play in Thursday's home game against the St. Mike's Majors. "We're not making light of Joey's situation but we've seen some incredible progress in this young man in the past 18 months and this is time to support him," Kelly said. "We've always said that we want to treat our players as if they were our own kids. "And I wouldn't want someone bailing on my 19-year-old son when he has a problem," Kelly said. "We still feel there's an awful lot of good in Joey. For us, this is not a hockey issue, it's a people issue." Sewell, accompanied by coach Tom Webster, turned himself in to Windsor Police Services Tuesday morning after being charged with breaching the conditions of a sentence imposed by an Ontario Court justice in Sault Ste. Marie last june.

Joey Sewell of the Windsor Spitfires leaves court with his lawyer Pat Ducharme, left, and team general manager Mike Kelly after appearing on a charge of breaching a sentencing condition. Sewell turned himself in to police Tuesday morning and was remanded until Friday. He was released under Kelly's recognizance.

The charges result from Sewell missing one night's curfew at Brentwood Recovery Home while his parents were in town for a visit. There has been no suggestion that alcohol was involved only that a curfew was missed.

Sewell, 19, had previously pleaded guilty to seven charges, including auto theft and possession of stolen property dating back to May 1999.

In June, he also pleaded guilty to breach of probation for failing to meet a curfew and for failing to abstain from alcohol in connection with an incident May 27.

As a result, the judge sentenced Sewell to 180 days of conditional sentence to be served in the community, including 90 days at Brentwood, three years of probation and 240 hours of community service.

Sewell enrolled in the Brentwood program in June and successfully completed the three-month term of the sentence.

"But it was felt that Joey would benefit from an extension," Ducharme. "And it was during this extended period of time in the program that the curfew violation occurred."

According to Ducharme, Sewell missed the 10 p.m. curfew at Brentwood on Saturday Sept. 30 and didn't return to the recovery home until after midnight on the morning of Sunday Oct. 1.

Under terms of his release, Sewell must continue to reside with Jim Hunter, the club's director of player development, and abide by a 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. curfew unless accompanied by either Kelly or Webster.