A man who has been declared a dangerous offender after he brutally beat and stomped on an Edmonton bus driver, is planning on appealing the designation.
Gary Mattson pleaded guilty last spring to the charge of aggravated assault, as well as assaulting a peace officer. Last month, a judge determined that Mattson is a dangerous offender.
In a nearly 80-page decision, Judge Harry Bridges examined Mattson's prior record. It shows his prior assault convictions are mainly against those in uniform and in positions of authority. As well as assaults that continued even while in custody.
On Dec. 3rd, 2009 officers were called to 139 Avenue and Victoria Trail where a bus driver was reportedly being assaulted by Mattson who appeared to be intoxicated. Tom Bregg remained in hospital more than eight weeks after the incident occurred. Bregg has lost vision in one eye, and continues to have reconstructive surgery.
Now, Mattson's lawyer confirms to CTV News Mattson will appeal the dangerous offender designation.
Naeem Rauf says a lawyer has not yet been assigned to the appeal, but confirms it will not be him.
The Crown needed to show brutal behaviour in the application for Mattson's dangerous offender status. During previous court proceedings, the Crown described Mattson's years of alcohol and drug abuse and several assault convictions in recent years.
The Crown also showed the court that while in custody Mattson has a history of violence. The court was shown a video displaying Mattson assaulting another inmate at the Edmonton Remand Centre last spring after he had beaten Bregg.
The video showed Mattson throwing a series of punches bringing the inmate to the floor. The Crown said it's just one of a series of physical assaults in custody in the past five years.
A date for the appeal to be heard has not been set.
