A 20-year old Clearview Township man was sentenced June 2 in Collingwood's Ontario Court of Justice after a guilty plea in April to the indictable offence of theft over $5,000. Jesse Royal was granted a 12-month conditional discharge with "vigorous" terms including an overnight curfew and 240 hours of community service.
The prosecutor read in his synopsis that in the early morning on Saturday, Oct. 18, 2008, Royal accompanied another 20-year-old man to a garage belonging to a County Road business in Clearview Township. The accused removed a tool chest and some painting supplies valued at $6,500 - all of which were later recovered through police investigation.
Defence counsel Scott Thomson clarified the "dispute" between Royal's companion and the property owner, leading the other perpetrator to enlist Royal for the theft.
"The main problem here is that he got talked into doing something that was not smart. He used poor judgment and had a few beers beforehand... He was only in trouble this one night," Thomson said.
Mr. Justice Roland Harris pondered the aspects of the case before speaking.
"This is a difficult sentence, whether you were drunk or sober. These are opportunistic offences under cover of night (and) it was your friend's grudge, not yours," he wrote.
Royal was forbidden to be within 100 metres of his accomplice or any offenders known to him. Alcohol consumption and attendance at bars will also be off limits for the duration.
In other court news, Justice Harris dealth with a number of drinking and driving related charges.
Judy Warll, 41, of Collingwood, entered a guilty plea June 2 to a charge of impaired driving. She received a heavier $1,500 to reflect a collision and the victim fine surtax was applied. She has three months to pay, with a one-year driving prohibition.
A 36-year-old Wasaga Beach man pleaded guilty May 26 to a charge of impaired driving. James Kinney was fined $1,500 owing to his high breathalyzer readings, and granted six months to pay; his driver's licence was suspended for a year.
Twenty-two year old Benjamin James Breault of Newmarket, pleaded guilty May 26 to impaired driving. He was fined $1,200 with nine months to pay. He will be a suspended driver for 12 months.
David Knox, 33, of Collingwood, pleaded guilty May 26 to having an excess blood alcohol, and was fined $1,000 with 30 days to pay. His licence will be suspended for a year by statute.
Martin Gravel, 22, of Clearview Township, pleaded guilty June 2 to driving while impaired. He was fined $1,000 without the victim fine surtax, and granted nine months to pay. His licence will be subject to a one-year suspension.
James Whitton, 72, of Elmvale, entered a guilty plea May 26 to impaired driving, receiving a $1,000 fine with nine months to pay. He will be a prohibited driver for a year.
A 19-year-old Collingwood area man pled guilty May 26 to the lesser offence of careless driving, after being arrested and charged for both impaired operation and excess alcohol. Josh Campbell was fined $1,000 and given 30 days to pay. Although he twice blew over the legal limit, he was found not guilty on that charge.
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