Guilty pleas entered in case of assault on Yarmouth teenager

YARMOUTH, N.S. — One of the people accused of committing what has been described as a cruel and vicious attack on a Yarmouth teenager has pleaded guilty to two of the charges before the court.
Trey (Jadelyn) Rhyno previously entered guilty pleas to the charges of assault causing bodily harm and forcible confinement.
A sentencing had originally been slated for July 23, but the defence and Crown sought an adjournment for the preparation of a Gladue report, in addition to a pre-sentence report.
The 17-year-old victim of the assault, and her family members, had been hoping to see the sentencing go ahead on its scheduled date. The teenage girl, her aunt and grandmother had prepared victim impact statements to be read to the court on that date.
The sentencing has now been pushed back to Sept. 3, although the judge noted there is no guarantee the sentencing will go ahead on that day given the time factor involved in preparing a Gladue report.
According to the Justice Education Society: “If you have been charged with a crime and are an Aboriginal person, there are special cultural considerations that the court must take into account in assessing your case.”
“This applies to all Aboriginal peoples of Canada, including status and non-status Indian, Inuit, and Métis and whether living on or off reserve,” reads the society’s website.
A Gladue report conducts an analysis of background cultural impact factors that many Aboriginals face, and asks the court to take these factors into consideration when sentencing an offender. 
According to the Nova Scotia Barrister’s Society, Gladue courts and reports take into account broader issues facing aboriginal people.
Rhyno is in custody awaiting sentencing. 
The charges Rhyno faces stem from an incident that occurred in early June in which a Yarmouth teenager was picked up in a vehicle, and then – according to the RCMP and also evidence that was presented at the sentencing of a co-accused – was taken to multiple locations and beaten, threatened and held against her will until she was eventually able to escape. 
Meanwhile, two co-accused were listed on the court docket on July 29 in Yarmouth provincial court for preliminary inquiries. Ashley Comeau’s next court appearance is now listed as Aug. 26 for election and plea. Danesha Russell’s next court appearance is listed as Aug. 19 for a hearing to set a trial date.