ATHABASCA – A man who repeatedly contravened a court order by getting into a vehicle without the owner present, even after just being released from custody, was fined $4,300.
In Athabasca Provincial Court Feb. 13, Richard Wilfred Perrier pleaded guilty to theft under $5,000, two counts of failing to comply with the conditions of an undertaking, failing to comply with the conditions of a release order and driving a motor vehicle without insurance. A number of other charges were withdrawn.
Judge Gordon Putnam agreed with the joint submission put forward by the Crown and defence and fined Perrier $300 on the theft charge, $500 and $250 on the two undertaking charges, $250 on the release order charge and $3,000 on the insurance charge.
Putnam gave Perrier until Aug. 14 to pay the fines, though he noted that if Perrier made “a concentrated and faithful effort" to settle the fines, he could ask for an extension. He also waived the victim fine surcharge.
Crown prosecutor Nicole Parker said that on July 21, 2022, the Redwater RCMP were dispatched to a theft in progress.
The complainant had noticed a male on his property (the exact location of which was not given in court) via a security camera. When the complainant arrived at the property, the male intruder was gone, but so was the security camera.
Parker said that by using screenshots of the camera surveillance, they were able to identify the male as Perrier.
Then, on Jan. 14, 2023, an RCMP constable conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle with a covered licence plate.
He identified Perrier as the driver and determined that he was on a release order not to be in any vehicle without the registered owner present.
Also, a rifle round was found in the vehicle, and Perrier was under conditions not to possess any weapons or ammunition.
Finally, on Jan. 16, 2023, Athabasca RCMP received a call about an erratic driver near Highway 2 and Range Road 225.
Upon arriving at the scene, an RCMP constable found the described vehicle and discovered Perrier, who had just been released from custody, sitting in the driver’s seat.
Besides the fact that this was in contravention of a court order — the vehicle did not belong to him and the registered owner was not present — Perrier was also unable to produce proof of registration or, more critically, insurance.
Noting that Perrier had a related but “quite dated” record, Parker said that fines were appropriate in this case given the gravity of the offences and the early guilty plea.
Duty counsel indicated that Perrier was very remorseful for his actions and that such behaviour was “not like him” — he simply found himself in a bad situation on those occasions.
When called upon to give a statement, Perrier said he was going to do his best to turn things around, adding, “I look forward to not seeing any of you any time soon.”
Judge Putnam returned the sentiment, telling Perrier he didn’t want to see him again either. He then wished the accused the best of luck.
