Man’s remorse, “tragic” family history nets him four and a half year jail term

Nakoa Ernest Potts, 28, of Alexis Nakota Sioux Nation has been sentenced to four and a half years on a manslaughter charge. Potts told police that he†had†been drunk and hadn’t slept for 13 days because of his methamphetamine use when he stabbed his younger brother Warren Fox Potts over a drug debt in the hamlet of Glenevis on July 1, 2014. Nakoa Potts had been charged with second-degree murder but was allowed to plead guilty to a reduced charge of manslaughter. Court of Queen’s Bench Justice Mary Moreau ruled the stabbing was “spontaneous and impulsive” as a result of the killer being intoxicated by alcohol and drugs and suffering from a lack of sleep and said she found his remorse to be “genuine” and “from the heart.” Moreau also noted Potts has ADHD and has a “tragic” family history with a “dysfunctional” upbringing punctuated by sexual abuse, violence and substance abuse. Prior to being sentenced, Potts apologized in court. He will be credited with two years for time spent in pre-trial custody so has two and a half years left to serve.