B.R. was a front-line worker, and worried for his health. He asked someone to put on a mask but was met with some resistance. Shouting lead to insults which lead to other people joining in on both sides, and finally someone uttered a threat. B.R. was charged as a party to an offence of the threat. B.R.’s charges were withdrawn.

B.H. and her partner were splitting up. B.H. told her partner not to come to her home, but he showed up late in the evening and would not leave.  B.H. stabbed him with a knife, so he would leave. Although B.H. was found guilty, the judge issued an absolute discharge. B.H. does not have a criminal record.

VJ was charged assault, uttering threats, and obstructing justice. Celine convinced the judge that VJ should be sentenced to a discharge.

While driving to work, P.P’s vehicle was struck by another car. A fight ensued, and P.P. was charged with assaulting the other driver. P.P’s charged were dropped by the crown.

After being subject to racial slurs, A.H. lost his temper and was charged with assault in Ottawa. A.H. received a conditional discharge, no criminal record, there was clear video evidence of her client assaulting a stranger.

While arguing with his wife, S.P. took out a hatchet and started damaging property. S.P threatened to hurt his wife with the hatchet.  Through Celine’s hard work, S.P. was only convicted of 2 charges, and was sentenced to house arrest, never having to enter a jail cell.

DRC did not have a good relationship with her neighbours, and police were often called against one neighbour or another. DRC was charged with assault with a weapon as a result of one of the incidents with the neighbour. Celine convinced the Crown to withdraw the charges against DRC as long as she entered into a Peace Bond and promised to keep the peace for 1 year.

J.B. was charged following an incident of Road Rage, where angers were so heated that he broke the ribs of the victim.  Celine successfully persuaded the Judge to sentence J.B. to house arrest following the conviction of assault cause bodily harm.

After MV testified in court against her ex-partner, police were told that MV hit her ex’s son with a shovel. Celine convinced the Crown that this allegation was intended to thwart the MV’s testimony on the other trial.  The Crown agreed and a peace bond was imposed. 

TF was in a toxic relationship: both would argue in front of the children, would break up and get back together.  TF’s wife reported to police that he had assaulted her numerous times during the relationship, including pushing her in front of a moving vehicle and threatening to hurt her.  She also alleged the children suffered assaults at the hands of TF.  After trial, TF was acquitted of most charges, and convicted only of the most minor assaults, and instead of a lengthy jail time, he received a short period of house arrest.

JK called police because he was worried that NW and his 3 friends were trying to kidnap him to forcefully remove his tattoo. Police believed that this was done as a result of being in a motorcycle gang.  At pretrial motions, Celine and co-counsel were able to successfully defeat an officer from being designated as an expert and giving opinion evidence that NW and his friends were acting on behalf of a gang. NW and co-accused plead to intimidation, and received a sentence of probation, instead of years’ in jail.

M.V. was charged with domestic assault. M.V.'s and his partner were going through a tough separation. His partner called police after the charges were laid, and reported breaches including that he communicated directly via email. Through numerous discussions with the Crown, the breaches were found to be unfounded, and all charges against M.V. were dropped in exchange for a peace bond.

D.R. spat on a security officer after he started following her around the store. D.R. was charged with assault. Crown asked the court to impose a jail sentence on D.R., a first offender.  Celine convinced the Judge that D.R. should receive a discharge, preventing a criminal record.

Charged with assault cause bodily harm in Ottawa. A colleague got mad at him, and both started to fight. G.C. won. Police were called, G.C. was charged with assault.  Celine convinced the crown that this was a case of "consent to fight" and the charge was dropped.

Youth charged with assault after a bad breakup. Celine was able to convince the Crown to drop all charges after client successfully completed counselling.

R.M. was well liked and received hundreds of accolades over the years working as a bus driver. However, when he refused to make a stop away from a bus stop, other passengers became upset and started confronting and recording. R.M. knocked the camera out of the passenger's hand, and was charged with assault.  Charges were dropped as a result of Celine's negotiating with the Crown.

S.N.'s children called police, saying that their mother hit them.CAS investigated and S.N. was charged with assault with a weapon, assault and threatening her children. Celine advocated strongly on her client's behalf, and the charges were withdrawn by the Crown.

J.M. was charged with Domestic Assault, for throwing items at their partner. Charges were withdrawn.

Sometimes babysitting can be difficult. In C.B.’s case, he was doing a favour for his friend and agreed to take charge of her 3 children. However, those children would not listen to him, and when they were last punished, they told their parents that C.B. had inappropriately touched them.  C.B. was charged with indecent exposure, and assaulting the children.  After lengthy testimonies at trial from the children, the judge acquitted C.B.  

D.R. spat on a security guard who was ushering the group out of a store. Crown asked the court to consider a jail sentence, but the court was convinced by Celine Dostaler that D.R. should not get a criminal record, and imposed a conditional discharge. 

CC had no criminal record, a good job, and great friends.  Unfortunately, CC drank too much at a bar, lost their temper and was in a bar fight.  When the police arrived, CC fought with the police.  Celine advocated that her client should not receive a criminal record, but instead should receive a restraining order, prohibiting CC from returning to the bar if CC completed treatment.  There was no criminal record, all the charges were dropped after treatment.

B.A., still in high school, decided to experiment with drugs.  He took so much drugs that he went into a drug-induced psychosis and didn’t realize he was running around naked, hit his girlfriend with a rock and hit people who were just walking outside.  Celine encouraged B.A. to start residential treatment for drug dependency, and because he successfully completed the program, the judge agreed to impose a discharge.

C.R. was charged with assault and assault with a weapon.  C.R.’s son went to school with a bruised lip, and told teachers that his father hit him.  Police interviewed all the children of the house.  Celine demonstrated the weaknesses in the case with all the children’s inconsistent statements, before it even went to trial, and the Crown dropped the charges. 

T.H. was drinking with her boyfriend, both were heavily intoxicated.  Police were called, and T.H. made a statement to police that she pushed her boyfriend with a knife and cut him.  At trial, T.H.’s statement were excluded as evidence, and she was acquitted of all charges.

While visiting the City of Ottawa, C.G. became upset that the hotel manager kicked her out of her room because her friend was smoking.  C.G. became irate, fought with the hotel manager and spit on him.  The Crown wanted C.G. to go to jail, but Celine’s submissions to the judge convinced him that C.G. should not receive a criminal record, and was sentenced to a discharge. 

In a case of road rage, P.L. tried to run a cyclist off the road. Videos of the incident were on social media, and the police decided to charge P.L. with dangerous driving and assault charges.   Celine brought to light the events leading up to the incident viewed on video – that the cyclist was egging on the driver, and the Judge agreed that P.L. should not receive a criminal record, and sentenced him to a discharge.

G.K.’s girlfriend told him that a schoolmate was harassing her and had touched her inappropriately.  When G.K. saw the schoolmate, he lost control of himself and punched him several times.  The Crown wanted G.K. to go to jail: he committed an unprovoked assault against someone. However, Celine’s arguments to the judge convinced him that G.K. should not have a criminal record.