Drugs ‘overlay’ to theft
A 25-year-old man pleaded guilty to two lesser charges in a St. Albert courtroom Thursday in relation to an April 2009 theft.
Robin Dwight Francis pleaded guilty to theft under $5,000 and being unlawfully in a dwelling house in addition to an original charge of possession of a weapon. According to an agreed statement of facts Francis was one of three people to enter a St. Albert residence, demanding the return of property. When the occupant of the residence refused, the group took several items, including an iPod, a laptop and an undisclosed amount of cash.
Crown prosecutor Jeff Morrison told Judge Leo Burgess that he and defence lawyer Lisa Trach had developed a joint submission, which included a suspended sentence with 12 months probation, 75 hours of community service and counselling and treatment for alcohol and drugs as directed by a probation officer.
Burgess asked the Crown if Francis was using either alcohol or drugs at the time of the offence.
“It was an overlay to the incident,” Morrison informed Burgess.
“There was no substance use by any of the individuals that day,” added Trach.
Burgess agreed with the submission, adding that Francis did not play a key role in the incident, unlike his co-accused who have already pled guilty.
Burgess added a five-year weapons ban, saying it was mandatory for those who are guilty of any weapons related charges.
An Ontario man’s lead foot brought on some unnecessary attention from police that he could have done without.
Andrew Robert Prevett pleaded guilty on Monday to two traffic offences as well as several breaches of bail conditions and was handed $2,500 fines.
Prevett was pulled over for speeding on April 25 and was unable to give the officer either a valid licence or insurance information.
He was on bail at the time for charges in Ontario as well, with conditions that he not leave the province of Ontario or drive. He also failed to make a court appearance when the charges were first laid.
Prevett was fined $500 for each of the five charges as well as surcharges and given three months to pay the fines.
