Brandon Sun - PRINT EDITION
Empty beer bottles were the motive behind a break-in to a garage that belonged to a homicide victim.
The break-in has brought a six-month jail sentence for the offender.
“He put himself in a terrible situation over empty beer bottles,” defence lawyer Bob Harrison said.
Walter Wilfrid French was sentenced on Monday for break and enter, and subsequent crimes of breach of bail and failing to attend court.
The break-in was to a garage on the 200-block of First Street in May.
The property had been the scene of a fatal house fire on April 4 and Robert Long, 75, died in the blaze that destroyed the two-storey house.
Ashtyn Franklin James Richard currently awaits trial on charges of manslaughter and arson with disregard for human life.
French’s break-in, however, had nothing to do with the homicide — rather, it was a crime of opportunity inspired by empty bottles.
On May 9, police were called to a report of a suspicious person at the property and an officer spoke to a witness who’d seen three people enter a shed.
While talking to the witness, the officer heard a commotion in the garage, which still stood on the property following the fire.
One man emerged and escaped up the back lane, but a boy and French were found at the garage and arrested at gunpoint.
The youth was carrying a bag that contained a DVD player that belonged to the current owner of the property.
French later explained that he’d been out drinking with buddies when they walked by and spotted a shed door open.
French entered the shed and noticed empty beer bottles, which he planned to sell or return to get money for more alcohol.
That led to a “bad decision” to break into the garage by forcing open the door.
The youth received six months deferred custody for the break-in — that is, a non-jail sentence served in the community on conditions.
As for 25-year-old French, who has a lengthy criminal record that includes previous break and enters, Judge Shauna Hewitt-Michta imposed six months in jail.
He received 59 days time served for the bail breach and failure to attend court charges.
Following jail, he’ll be on probation for a year.
» ihitchen@brandonsun.com
Republished from the Brandon Sun print edition January 22, 2013
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Empty beer bottles were the motive behind a break-in to a garage that belonged to a homicide victim.
The break-in has brought a six-month jail sentence for the offender.
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Empty beer bottles were the motive behind a break-in to a garage that belonged to a homicide victim.
The break-in has brought a six-month jail sentence for the offender.
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