Skip to content

Young offender sentenced to six months in jail

A youth well-known to police was sentenced for the role he played in multiple vehicle thefts.
Court Report 2

A youth well-known to police was sentenced for the role he played in multiple vehicle thefts.

The 17-year-old male, who can't be named under the Youth Criminal Justice Act, appeared in court on Tuesday, April 2, where he pled guilty to breaking and entering not a dwelling, two counts of possession of property obtained by crime, failing to stop a motor vehicle while being pursued by police, two counts of failing to comply with conditions, and two counts of theft of a motor vehicle.

Bonnyville RCMP were called on Oct. 16, 2018 to a local oilfield company where two males had broken into the locked compound around 2:30 a.m.

Video surveillance showed a white truck pulling onto the property before the youth broke in.

The truck, which had been stolen from the oilfield company, was later found by a rural property owner. Police received a report at 10 a.m. by the resident, claiming a truck was parked in his field and livestock had escaped as a result.

When police arrived, the property owner described chasing two people off of his property earlier, and he provided a description that matched the suspects involved in the 2:30 a.m. break-in.

While officers were investigating, the same truck seen in video surveillance from earlier that morning drove towards them, but as soon as the suspects saw police were on scene, started to flee.

A short pursuit took place before the truck drove into the ditch about one-kilometre away.

The youth fled the vehicle and ran towards a gravel pit where he was arrested.

On Jan. 18, 2019, local RCMP received a call about the theft of a Ford F250 from a rural residence. It was about 5 a.m. when the call came in.

Less than an hour later, police received another complaint about a 2007 Ford F550 being stolen.

An investigation led RCMP to Troy Atkinson, Wyatt Whitford, and the youth.

During statements with police, Atkinson and Whitford both identified the youth as being involved.

He was arrested on Feb. 22 when officers responded to a break and enter outside of town. The youth and Tyler Peters were in a truck stolen out of Cold Lake when it got stuck in the snow.

Peters was granted bail during his appearance in court on Feb. 22.

According to defence counsel Hart Spencer, the youth grew up "in not the best set of circumstances."

His parents suffered from addictions issues, and the youth followed suit.

"You have an unstable home life and family with addictions issues," he said, adding despite his age, the youth has a "quite serious" addiction himself.

Honourable Judge Kathleen Williams agreed with the joint submission for six months in jail, three months of community supervision, followed by an 18-month probation order where he is to have no contact with the co-accused, keep the peace, be of good behaviour, remain in the province, and attend counselling and treatment as directed by probation.

He was also sentenced to a two-year weapons prohibition and to provide a sample of his DNA for the national databank.

With 59 enhanced days behind him, the 17-year-old will serve his remaining 121 before being released from custody.

push icon
Be the first to read breaking stories. Enable push notifications on your device. Disable anytime.
No thanks