Latest news with #Leamington
CTV News
2 days ago
- General
- CTV News
Homelessness Hub in Leamington expanding to offer overnight services
The Essex County Homeless Hub in Leamington, Ont. is seen in this undated image. (Source: County of Essex) The County of Essex is expanding overnight services at the Essex County Homelessness Hub (ECH2). The facility is located at 215 Talbot Street East in Leamington. Operated by Family Services Windsor-Essex (FSWE), the ECH2 will offer a safe place for people to attend every night from 10 p.m. to 8 a.m., seven days a week, starting July 21, 2025, and running through to March 2026. 'The overnight program is an essential resource for rural residents experiencing homelessness, offering not only immediate shelter but also a compassionate connection to support. At FSWE, we're committed to supporting individuals as they navigate services and build pathways toward stable housing and improved overall well-being,' said Bryan Rock, community programs manager at FSWE. This initiative builds on the previous warming centre model, which offered a similar service starting in December of 2024 and ending in March of 2025. The overnight program will be operational seven days week until at least March of 2026, providing greater safety, stability, and access to supports for County residents experiencing homelessness. 'Homelessness is no longer just a big city problem and the Essex County Homelessness Hub is an important pillar of the County's response to homelessness in the region,' said Warden Hilda MacDonald, who is also the Mayor of Leamington. 'This expansion reflects Essex County Council's ongoing commitment to services and community partnerships that prioritize the health and well-being of some of the County's most vulnerable residents. The need is great and growing and we are committed to meeting that needm,' she said. From December 2024 through the end of March, the ECH2 overnight service recorded 918 visits, with a peak of 37 unique individuals in a single week in February 2025. During the same period, daytime services at the ECH2 supported 245 unique individuals and logged 4,715 visits. 'The overnight program is an essential resource for rural residents experiencing homelessness, offering not only immediate shelter but also a compassionate connection to support. At FSWE, we're committed to supporting individuals as they navigate services and build pathways toward stable housing and improved overall well-being,' said Bryan Rock, Community Programs Manager at FSWE. The ECH2 will continue to operate daytime hours from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., seven days a week, offering a range of wraparound supports including housing navigation, replacing identification, assistance accessing income support programs, harm reduction resources, eviction prevention, and access to food, clothing, and hygiene items. For more information about the Essex County Homelessness Hub and available services, visit or call 519-326-8629 ext. 395.
CTV News
3 days ago
- CTV News
Court weighs parole ineligibility for foreign worker in Leamington 'crime of passion' murder
The court weighs parole ineligibility for a foreign worker in Leamington a 'crime of passion' murder in 2022. Warning: contains graphic content David Espinoza Montes, 41, has already pleaded guilty to second-degree murder for killing his common-law spouse, Shermaine Carling, 33. Both were working in Leamington as temporary foreign workers and living together in a rooming house on Mill Street. On Sept. 29, 2022, Carling was stabbed to death with a knife and a pair of scissors, by Espinoza Montes. 'It may have been a momentary lapse in judgement by the accused, but it was a brutal and sustained act of violence against Ms. Carling,' Assistant Crown Attorney Nicole Stortini said Thursday. 'She was defenceless and attacked in the sanctity of her own home.' Court learned Carling suffered 48 'sharp force wounds' to her body, including 21 in her back and 17 in her neck and upper torso. Victim Impact Statements Stortini described two victim impact statements read into the record as 'powerful'. They were both read into the record by Assistant Crown Attorney Jayme Lesperance, on behalf of family that does not live in Canada. 'The brutality of my sister's murder - committed in the very home she once called her sanctuary -has shattered our sense of safety and left us living in constant fear,' Rhea Pulido told the court. Pulido said her sister immigrated to Canada to provide a better life for her two children and to provide for her extended family in the Philippines. 'Her death has thus inflicted a dual loss: the irreplaceable presence of a devoted daughter, sister, and mother, and the broad-reaching financial foundation she so selflessly built for our entire family.' Jhoy William-Sipol, another relative of Carling's, told the court both of Carlings' children have now dropped out of school due to stress. 'As the main point of contact for authorities, doctors, victim's services, and others, I'm usually the first to hear the news or any updates and then comes the difficult task of sharing it with family members who are more in deep pain than I am,' William-Sipol wrote. William-Sipol explained the emotional toll of the court process since 2022. 'I felt vulnerable and feared retaliation from friends of the accused, knowing I'm the executor.' Accused apologizes Espinosa Montes apologized to the Carling family, the court and to Canada when given a chance to speak Thursday. 'I came to this country for the purpose of working. I did not come to create problems to this country,' Espinosa Montes said. 'I have never been in prison in my life. I have never been in prison in my own country. This is my first time.' Espinosa Montes didn't speak specifically about Carling but did say he is remorseful for his actions that took her life. 'I apologize again to her family, her children, her mother. And I only pray now that God will guard them and protect them so they can get ahead,' Espinosa Montes said. 'I have lost so much for a moment of anger.' No excuse for actions 'This is a crime of passion,' defence lawyer Patricia Brown said Thursday during a sentencing hearing. 'The victim was seeing another man.' Brown said her client had a 'momentary lapse' in judgment. 'When he discovered those text messages on that fateful day, he caused the death of the victim. There is no excuse,' Brown said. She said her client was struggling from declining mental health, insomnia and alcohol abuse. 'Even the victim, earlier that day, was in support of him going to the clinic to get medication,' Brown said, noting however alcohol was not a factor the day of the killing. Joint submission on sentence Espinosa Montes pleaded guilty to second-degree murder, which carries a life sentence in prison. The defence and both Assistant Crown Attorneys presented a joint submission on sentencing. They would like Espinosa Montes to be sentenced to a period of parole ineligibility of 12 years. Judge reserves decision Justice Joseph Perfetto was prepared to return with his decision late Thursday afternoon. At the request of the Crown however, decided to defer to Wednesday July 23. Carlings' family members were watching the court proceedings remotely Thursday, where they are 12 hours ahead. He decided instead to return with a decision starting at 9 a.m. Immigration concerns At the time of her death, Carling was seeking refugee status so she could stay in Canada and continue to support her family in the Philippines. Espinoza Montes immigrated to Canada from Honduras because he was 'being targeted by a gang', according to Brown. She says her client fears for his safety once he's served his sentence in Canada. There was discussion Thursday about Espinoza Montes' fate once he is granted parole, with Brown noting he is likely to be deported but will attempt to remain in the country for safety reasons.
CBC
3 days ago
- CBC
Man who stabbed Leamington migrant worker girlfriend 48 times says he's sorry
Sentencing submissions have been heard for David Enrique Espinoza Montes, who brutally killed his girlfriend Shermaine Carling in a Leamington rooming house in September 2022. Imprisonment with no chance of parole until 2034 is being recommended. CBC's Dalson Chen reports.
CTV News
3 days ago
- CTV News
Several impaired charges laid in Leamington
An Ontario Provincial Police officer attends a scene in this file image. Leamington OPP have laid several impaired related charges after a traffic stop on Satinwood Crescent in the municipality. On Wednesday just after 11:30 a.m., a traffic stop was made. When officers spoke to the driver, they said they showed signs of impairment. As a result, a 33-year-old from Leamington is facing charges for:
CTV News
3 days ago
- CTV News
Cocaine and meth seized in Leamington raid
Four people have been arrested after a drug bust in Leamington. On Friday July 11, the OPP Essex County Community Street Crime Unit, OPP Tactics and Rescue Unit (TRU), OPP Emergency Response Team, OPP K9 Unit and Leamington OPP officers, executed a search warrant at an address on Erie Street South. Police seized quantities of cocaine, methamphetamine, drug trafficking paraphernalia, a prohibited weapon and ammunition. As a result of the investigation, four individuals were arrested and charged under the Criminal Code. A 43-year-old Leamington woman was charged with: Possession of a Schedule I substance for the purpose of Trafficking - Cocaine Unauthorized Possession of Weapon Careless storage of Firearm, Weapon, Prohibited device or ammunition A 47-year-old Leamington man was charged with: Possession of a Schedule I substance for the purpose of Trafficking - Cocaine Unauthorized Possession of Weapon Careless storage of Firearm, Weapon, Prohibited device or ammunition A 25-year-old Leamington man was charged with: Possession of a Schedule I substance for the purpose of Trafficking - Cocaine Unauthorized Possession of Weapon Careless storage of Firearm, Weapon, Prohibited device or ammunition All three accused were released from custody and are scheduled to appear before the Ontario Court of Justice in Windsor on Aug. 18. And a 17-year-old youth was also charged with: Possession of a Schedule I substance for the purpose of Trafficking - Cocaine Unauthorized Possession of Weapon Careless storage of Firearm, Weapon, Prohibited device or ammunition Failure to comply with undertaking (Three Counts) The youth's identity is protected under the Youth Criminal Justice Act (YCJA). The youth was held pending a bail hearing at the Ontario Court of Justice in Windsor. Anyone with information regarding this or any other incident is asked to call the OPP at 1-888-310-1122. If you wish to remain anonymous you can contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) where you may be eligible for a cash reward of up to $2000.
