Fort Smith man sentenced to nearly two years for assaults

A man from Fort Smith has been sentenced to 699 days’ imprisonment for assaults that left two men seriously injured near the town’s recreation centre in 2023.

RCMP announced in October 2023 that they had arrested and charged Christian Gordon with attempted murder, aggravated assault and robbery related to an incident where two men were found injured.

The first two charges were downgraded in 2024 to aggravated assault and assault causing bodily harm.

In Territorial Court in Fort Smith last week, 20-year-old Gordon pleaded guilty to those two charges. The robbery charge was withdrawn by the Crown.

According to an agreed statement of facts, RCMP received a call at around 12:30am on September 30, 2023 reporting two men passed out on the ground near the recreation centre. Officers found the men, then aged 36 and 41, swollen and with bloody faces.

Neither man had any recollection of what had happened to them.

One was taken to the local health centre where he was treated for swelling to the face, two black eyes and a cracked tooth.

The other was medevaced to Edmonton with two areas of bleeding between his skull and brain. He had a left orbital fracture, jaw fracture, fractures to his nasal bone and the cartilage in his throat, and a traumatic brain injury. The man underwent orbital fracture surgery.

The second man returned to the NWT on October 10 and was then released from the hospital in Yellowknife on October 26. He was able to drive two months after the incident and return to work full time in May 2024.

In a victim impact statement submitted to the court in March last year, the man said his orbital implant can cause double vision when he looks down, making watching TV or using a computer difficult.

He said he also experiences dizziness and short-term memory loss as a result of the assault and lost income leading to concerns about living costs.

Following the assault, one of the men’s cell phones was found on a trail in Fort Smith. It contained video showing Gordon stomping on the men. Police then seized Gordon’s sandals and the sweater he was wearing, which each had one of the victims’ blood on them.

Gordon did not know men

A pre-sentencing report stated that Gordon indicated remorse for the harm he caused the victims.

“I’m sorry the fight was taken that far and I hope your injuries don’t end up affecting you in the long term,” he was quoted as saying.

Gordon, who did not know the men before the assault, claimed his aggression was brought on by the men saying negative things about his mother. He said he did not blame the victims and he was angry at himself for his behaviour.

He was highly intoxicated at the time of the assault and had not taken his medication for attention defecit hyperactivity disorder. He said had he taken that medication, he believes he would have been able to control his anger and, had he been sober, he would have shown restraint.

Gordon has no previous criminal record. He said he was open to taking treatment and would benefit from an anger management program.

While incarcerated, he has taken steps to complete his Canadian Adult Education Credential and hopes to continue his education in a carpentry program.

Judge Stephanie Whitecloud-Brass sentenced Gordon to 699 days for the aggravated assault charge and 350 days for assault causing bodily harm, to be served at the same time.

With credit for time served in pre-trial custody, Gordon had 167 days of his sentence remaining when he was sentenced on April 8.

Once released from jail, Gordon will be on probation for 18 months.

Conditions include that he not consume nor possess alcohol for six months, have no contact with the victims, and complete any counselling or treatment as directed by his probation officer.

Gordon will also be prohibited from possessing firearms for 10 years.