Obed gets federal time for bar beating

A man with a lengthy and violent criminal history pleaded guilty Friday to assaulting a bartender just two weeks ago in Happy Valley-Goose Bay.

Sem Paul Obed, 41, was also sentenced to two years plus a day, during an appearance in provincial court that had originally been set aside for only a bail hearing.

Obed, who was arrested earlier this week, admitted to a charge of assault causing bodily harm in an incident at the Sand Bar lounge earlier this month.

Obed attacked bartender Andrea Pardy while she was closing up the lounge in the early hours of Aug. 16. When Pardy told him that it was too late to order a beer, Obed walked behind the bar and assaulted her.

Pardy had spoken out after the assault, complaining she felt the RCMP were not doing enough to find her assailant.

Obed has been in trouble with the law throughout his adult life. His criminal record shows more than 20 convictions in Newfoundland and Labrador, as well as others in Nova Scotia. He has been previously convicted for such crimes as attempted murder, sexual assault and break and enter.