A man charged with forging a cheque and using another person’s credit card without permission has been sentenced to a month behind bars.
Merrick John Saar was sentenced in Stettler Provincial Court last week to 30 days in jail for three counts each of forgery and using forged documents and one count of false pretenses.
Although it was his first criminal offence, he was charged for using the credit card of a former employer in Grande Prairie in which he racked up charges of $825.98, and then forged a signature on his father’s cheque for a total of $350.
“It’s something that took a little planning,” said Judge J. D. Holmes.
Saar was also placed on probation for 12 months and ordered to repay the former employer.
Heather Ann Blouin was also sentenced for forgery and ordered to complete 50 hours of community service in the first eight months of a 12-month probation period.
“The amount is small, relatively speaking, and the money has been returned,” Judge Holmes said about the $300 forged cheque.
In other decisions last week:
— Rhonda Jean Sinclair was fined a total of $3,475, including $2,875 for driving a vehicle without insurance, $250 for driving while suspended, $230 for driving an unregistered vehicle and $115 for not wearing a seatbelt.
— Carlos Ariel Hernandez was fined $1,000 for driving with a blood-alcohol content over .08 mg, with a reading of 100 mg.
— Brayden Michael Elliott was fined $230 for operating an unregistered motor vehicle and $115 for transporting liquor in a vehicle.
— Saber Adok was also fined $115 for transporting liquor in a vehicle.
— Lewis Earl Regan was fined $350 for breaching curfew on his probation.
On one count, he went to a Calgary Flames’ hockey game for the first period only so that he could try to be home by 10 p.m., but he didn’t do so.
“He’s on thin ice,” said Crown lawyer Murray MacPherson.
— Dustin A. Rowland, 19, was fined $100 for breaching probation after he failed twice to report to the probation officer.
— Aeryal R. Stefanik, 26, was placed on six months’ probation for obstructing a peace officer when she tried to re-enter a drinking establishment after she was dismissed for being heavily intoxicated.
Stating that it was an unusual incident for her, she was also ordered to write a letter of apology to the officer involved.