ATHABASCA – A 33-year-old Edmonton woman will have another chance at keeping her criminal record clean after receiving a year-long conditional discharge after pleading guilty to six charges brought on by her substance-abuse problem.
In Athabasca Court of Justice July 24, Brandy Lynn Campbell, 33, pleaded guilty to two counts each of theft under $5,000, and failure to comply with release order conditions, along with single charges of mischief-obstruction, obstructing a peace officer and possession of stolen property under $5,000 as part of a joint submission between Crown prosecutor Brett Grierson, and duty counsel Robert Gladu.
Two additional charges of theft under $5,000, along with single counts of mischief-damage under $5,000, failing to comply with a release order, and a single traffic violation for driving an off-highway vehicle on a highway without authorization were withdrawn by Grierson.
The two lawyers put together a plea deal that will see Campbell have a fresh slate to continue her life if she’s able to abide by the conditions, which include mandatory counselling for drug and alcohol addictions; an initial submission had included two $250 fines, but Justice Jeffery Morrison objected, noting the woman’s clean record up until this point.
“What’s the point of a conditional discharge if she’s going to have a criminal record for the fines afterwards? It’s not like she would come out of it with clean hands at the end,” said Justice Morrison. “It’s new behaviour on her part, it’s got to come from somewhere when she’s 33 and has no criminal record.”
Campbell, who said she plans to attend a detox centre and then work with her housing and social workers to figure out what comes next after her release from the Edmonton Remand Centre, thanked Justice Morrison.
“I’m really grateful, and I appreciate your understanding,” said Campbell, who was fighting back tears during her statement. “I’m sorry, it’s just been a very long time since I’ve seen my son, and I’m excited to see him again.”
Justice Morrison gave Campbell one last bit of advice before sending her on her way, noting that her drug of choice would “kill her quickly” as Campbell said she had struggled with alcohol as well as methamphetamines.
“That stuff will kill you quick; oh my heavens it will kill you quick. I beg you, on behalf of society, the justice system, and everybody else, you’ve got to get off that stuff,” he said. “If we can prevent one more young Indigenous person from getting a criminal record that they don’t need if they could just get their life in order, this is a good thing. This is your chance, I’m going to sound like your dad here, but straighten up, fly right, and you’re going to be OK.”
The facts
Grierson told court that on May 17, 2023, Athabasca RCMP officers attended a residence where the accused was trying to gain entry. Campbell caused the members of the home to be disturbed, with alarms being set off.
The same day, around 5 p.m., police were also called to the Grand Union Hotel in Athabasca, after a different individual said that they had traced their stolen iPhone 14 there via the “find my phone” app. Police located Campbell in possession of the phone and during the arrest, she became combative and tried to pull away.
Grierson also told court that on May 13, Campbell was found with a phone, two knives, safety glasses and insurance documents that had been stolen from a vehicle. Campbell was apprehended and arrested on reasonable suspicion of the theft, and when the police searched her backpack, the items were located.
Lastly, court heard that on May 14, Campbell was on a release order, of which one condition was to not be in possession of identification documents belonging to another person. Campbell had stolen a golf cart from the Athabasca Golf & Country club and was arrested by police shortly thereafter. During her arrest, RCMP located a Mastercard, as well as a security card that belonged to another person.
