A 20-year-old Stettler man will be under four months of house arrest, followed by two months of probation, after engaging in a series of thefts over a three-month period adding up to $1,000, while employed by Walmart.
On Thursday, Oct. 27, Stephen Teasdale appeared before Judge W.A. Skinner in Alberta Provincial Court in Stettler to answer to the single charge of theft.
After the company discovered the theft, they terminated Teasdale's employment and contacted RCMP.
At his first appearance earlier this year, Teasdale pleaded guilty to the charge. His counsel requested a pre-sentencing report for the first-time offender, which was completed and presented on Oct. 27 to the court.
The pre-sentencing report noted that Teasdale has expressed "genuine remorse" for his actions and was under a great deal of stress at the time of the thefts as his parents were in the midst of separating.
His counsel asked the judge to sentence Teasdale to a conditional sentence, which would be expunged upon the completion of his probation. However, the Crown – citing that Teasdale, as an employee, was in a position of trust – asked for a firmer sentence.
The Judge was inclined to agree with the Crown, noting that counsel's basis for the conditional sentence was not borne out by the evidence provided.
Teasdale was also ordered to pay back the $1,000 he stole from the business, plus a victims of crime surcharge.
Man loses licence, fined after traffic stopWolun Li pleaded guilty through counsel after failure to provide a breath sample stemming from a September traffic stop.
The matter was unusual in that Li was not present to enter his own plea or for sentencing, instead giving authority to his counsel to speak on his behalf in all matters. Li, the court heard, is in northern British Columbia for employment and will not return to the area any time soon.
The judge allowed the matter to proceed after he was promised that Li would sign and fax any judicial orders back to the courthouse.
The court heard that on Sept. 18, RCMP stopped Li and requested a roadside sobriety test, shortly after he exited 59th Street Liquor Store and drove off in his vehicle.
As Li failed the test, he was taken to do further tests at the detachment.
Based on his previous record, the judge fined Li $1,200 — $200 more than the regular fine – and suspended his licence for a full 12 months.