A 34-year-old Wahta man is serving a jail sentence and undergoing mental health and drug treatment after chasing his co-workers with a chainsaw at a Muskoka Lakes work site.

Acting Crown attorney Christine McGoey told the court that on June 11, 2007, Darrell Stock was working with his stepfather Kim Jones, and his uncle Glen Prosser at a cottage in Muskoka Lakes township when Jones criticized him for putting a dock stringer on wrong. Stock grew angry and went and reclined on the cottage deck for a few hours, court heard.

When he came back to the job site, Stock’s stepfather and uncle continued to make comments that angered him, said McGoey, and Stock started up a chainsaw and waved it and a wrecking bar at Jones. McGoey said Prosser told Stock he had called the police, prompting Stock to chase him with the chainsaw down to the lake.

Court heard that Jones then threw a rock at Stock, but while running away fell into a creek and twisted his ankle. Court heard that Stock then spotted Prosser and chased him, giving Jones the opportunity to limp down to the lake and get into a boat. Jones and Prosser then took the boat to the Windermere dock. Stock left in another boat and later turned himself in to the Bracebridge Ontario Provincial Police, McGoey said.

At the Ontario Court of Justice in Bracebridge Jan. 29, Stock pleaded guilty to two counts of assault with a chainsaw and two counts of uttering death threats.

Several of his relatives were in court to offer him moral support.

“I would point out that although Mr. Stock has a previous criminal record, there are no violent offences at all and no breaches of court orders,” said defence counsel Peter Ward, adding that at the time of the offence, Stock was not taking his medications. As a result of a stroke and heavy drug use, Stock had lost some of his abilities and skills, which was frustrating for him and his stepfather. Ward said Jones would sometimes vent his frustration by making comments such as, “how does it feel not to be normal?”

“Mr. Stock has effectively always worked after leaving school nine years ago,” Ward said.

He told the court Stock is seeking help through mental health services, Addiction Outreach and a program at the Enaahtig Healing Lodge and Learning Centre.

“The facts are like something out of a horror movie,” said McGoey, “with men running from a chainsaw and one of them falling and breaking his ankle and Mr. Stock threatening to kill them.”

She suggested to the court that a six- to nine-month sentence would be appropriate for the offence.

Stock told the court he was embarrassed by his actions and is aware of the seriousness of the charges. “I’m taking steps to get help,” he said.

Justice John Evans sentenced Stock to 90 days incarceration for each charge, to be served intermittently on weekends. He will be on probation while serving the sentence and after completing the jail time will be on probation for another two years.