BOYLE – A 32-year-old from Lac La Biche is on the hook for $1,100 in fines for a gas theft that back in 2021.
In Boyle Court of Justice July 25, Tyler Evan Deschambeau, 32, pleaded guilty to theft under $5,000, as well as failure to attend court.
Justice Thomas Achtymichuk sentenced Deschambeau in line with the joint submission from Crown prosecutor Ashley Kirby and duty counsel Dylan Straus, which saw the Crown withdraw an additional charge of mischief under $5,000.
“I am going to waive the victim-fine surcharge, given that his employment is sporadic, and he does have dependants that he helps financially,” said Justice Achtymichuk.
Straus told court that Deschambeau was currently living in Lac La Biche and was of Métis heritage. According to him, Deschambeau worked primarily as a handyman, taking odd jobs to try and make ends meet.
“He does have three children, they aren’t in his custody, but he does help provide for them,” said Straus.
Deschambeau, who was appearing via phone, asked for four months to pay his fine, since he wasn’t sure if he would be able to find work cleaning tanks, which was his most recent steady job.
If he fails to pay his fines by Dec. 22, 2023, Deschambeau will face eight days in jail as a default.
The facts
Kirby told court that on July 19, 2021, Boyle RCMP received a report that someone had caught two individuals stealing fuel from his fuel tank on Buffalo Lake Metis Settlement.
The caller was able to identify one male as Deschambeau from prior interactions, but was unable to identify the other suspect at the time. Kirby said that the other man was later identified.
According to Kirby, the victim was able to convince the two men to return the fuel that was in the tanker on the back of their truck, but they didn’t return the fuel that they had put in their truck’s tank. The two men were later arrested based on this information.
Kirby also said that on Sept. 13, 2022, Deschambeau was required to attend court as part of his release order but failed to do so.
