Man accused of Yellowknife crash was already facing assault charge

• UPDATE: Dean Ruben was convicted of mischief, three counts of failing to comply with a recognizance and operation of a vehicle while impaired. He was fined and sentenced to 75 days in jail plus a 12-month probation and a 10-year firearms ban.Additional charges were withdrawn or stayed.

A man charged in connection with a vehicle crash in Yellowknife last Wednesday has a long criminal history.

Dean Ruben, 27, was charged withdangerous driving, possessing property obtained by crime and breaching his release conditions after a sport utility vehicle plowed through a yard, smashed two vehicles and hit a fire hydrant.

He was charged with assault last June. Later that same month he was charged with two breaches of his release conditions.

Ruben, who grew up in Paulatuk, has a long history of criminal behaviour.

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In 2013 he was convicted of aggravated assault for stabbing his stepfather 14 times. Ruben was sentenced to 22 months in jail and two years probation.

His criminal record also includes convictions for break and enter, assault, theft, mischief and numerous breaches of court orders.

Court documents reveal that, as a child, he was physically and psychologically abused by his alcoholic mother.

He's due in court on his assault charge later this week.