WESTLOCK – A Westlock man caught with a stolen licence plate last spring received a 45-day jail sentence, time deemed served by 71 “actual days” he spent behind bars in the fall of 2022.
In Westlock Provincial Court March 29, Dustin Badke pleaded guilty to possession of stolen property under $5,000, while Crown prosecutor Mark Facundo withdrew an identical charge, along with a single court of operating a motor vehicle while prohibited.
Judge Thomas Achtymichuk agreed to the joint-sentence submission from Facundo and defence lawyer Richard Forbes on the 45-day sentence, which was deemed served by 71 actual days Badke spent at the Edmonton Remand Centre (ERC) Sept. 13 to Nov. 22, 2022.
“Well, it would be encouraging if this was bringing to a close your criminal record … it looks like your last conviction was in 2021. So, hopefully this will end the record you’ve spent some time accumulating,” said Judge Achtymichuk, who also ordered Badke to pay a $100 victim-fine surcharge by April 28.
While Facundo noted Badke’s “related and lengthy” three-page record, Forbes said this was the last of “Mr. Badke’s outstanding criminal issues” as he’s currently employed doing renovation work in Westlock.
“And he’s looking forward to the summer highway construction season,” said Forbes, noting Badke has a seven-year-old daughter he sees every second weekend.
Court heard that on April 8, 2022, an RCMP officer on patrol saw Badke exit a vehicle and during a search of it they found a stolen licence plate on the floor.
