An Eden Valley man with a decade-long record of almost continuous crime was sentenced to more than two years in jail for stabbing a family friend.

Judge Judy Shriar sentenced Lance Daniels to 26 months in jail for stabbing a man living in his sister’s basement.

Derick Hamell had been living at the home on the Eden Valley reserve for a short time before the stabbing occurred.

Daniels had been partying all day, even getting a ride from Hamell to buy alcohol. Later that day Hamell knocked out one of Daniel’s relatives when they surprised each other as one exited the house and the other entered.

A group of people swarmed Hamell and Daniels pulled a knife, slashing at Hamell’s throat and missing. However, a second swing connected with Hamell’s side.

Hamell left the area and was picked up by some people driving by, who took him home and then called an ambulance.

He received stitches to close the 2.5 centimetre cut at the Oilfields Hospital and he was released.

Daniels was later arrested and charged with the stabbing and breaching conditions of a previous court release.

Shriar noted Daniels’ long history of breaching court orders and other crimes, but said he did not have a history of serious violence.

His previous convictions include being the getaway driver for two men who robbed a pair of teachers from the Eden Valley school who were out for a walk. He received a seven-month jail sentence for that crime. He was also recently sentenced for an attempted stabbing when he took a swipe at another Eden Valley man who was leaving a Longview liquor store with a flat of beer.

Crown prosecutor Kevin Doyle said the situation with Hamell was serious because Daniels attempted to stab the man in his neck.

“He slashed at Mr. Hamell’s throat and missed,” Doyle said. “This could have been a lot worse. He slashed out at a vital part of Mr. Hamell’s body.”

Daniels’ aboriginal background and how that influenced his life also had to be taken into consideration, said Shriar.

Court heard Daniels’ father and grandfather attended residential schools and his father struggled with alcohol addiction. Despite that, Shriar noted his mother had been a stable force in his life, until her death around 10 years ago.

She agreed with defense lawyer Steve Wojick that Daniels should spend just over two years in jail.

Shriar sentenced him to two years in jail for the stabbing and another 60 days for breaching his conditions.

He will also be on probation for two years. Shriar said she hopes he will take another attempt at sobriety through a treatment program, after several failed attempts.

“He does at some point have to take responsibility and deal with his alcohol problem,” Shriar said.

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