Stolen credit-card spree nets time served

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This article was published 01/12/2023 (1026 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A 26-year-old man who pleaded guilty to racking up expenses from numerous businesses in town with stolen credit cards was sentenced to time served, despite the Crown’s request for more jail time.

Vincent Mitchell pleaded guilty to numerous theft charges and using a stolen credit card in provincial court on Thursday. While the Crown and defence agreed on a range of six to nine months behind bars, the Crown argued that Mitchell should be sentenced to more than time served because Mitchell’s offences have made him a “nuisance” to the community.

Mitchell has already spent about four-and-a-half months in jail, which is credited as just over six months.

Crown attorney Yaso Mathu read the evidence for the charges in court.

Earlier this year in July, a Brandon woman reported that her vehicle had been broken into and her credit card had been stolen.

That same day, the credit card was used six times for purchases — once at 7-Eleven, three separate times at McDonald’s, and once each at the Crystal Hotel and Super Thrifty Pharmacy. The total value of the purchases was $89.

When police arrested Mitchell, he said he had been high on marijuana at the time he made the purchases. He was released on an undertaking.

A few days later, police received a call from Mark’s about a man who had stolen merchandise from the store. Video surveillance identified Mitchell as taking $229.55 worth of goods. He was arrested again and released on an undertaking.

Then police received a call from a man who reported his wallet had been taken from his truck on 15th Street between July 10 and 12.

Bank statements showed fraudulent transactions at Romans General Store, Brandon Sunset Taxi, Leo’s Groceries, Subway, Winners, and ABC Taxi. The purchases totalled $172 and surveillance video at the businesses was used to identify Mitchell.

Mitchell also pleaded guilty to stealing a bicycle in July, after police stopped him for “acting suspiciously” when he rode past a police cruiser on 18th Street.

Mathu noted the 26-year-old’s criminal record only began in 2019 and since then has 26 entries, most of them property-related offences.

The prosecutor argued that Mitchell should receive a sentence on the higher end of the six-to-nine-month range because of his repeated use of Brandonites’ credit cards to make purchases.

“Deterrence and denunciation are required here because Mr. Mitchell does not seem to be getting the message that he cannot continue to steal from businesses, use people’s credit cards, take things that don’t belong to him, and he’s become a real nuisance in the community,” Mathu said.

Mitchell’s defence lawyer, Bob Harrison, recommended his client be sentenced to time served, having already spent over six months in jail.

Harrison said Mitchell is a different person now than he was when he was arrested and struggling with a meth addiction. The defence lawyer said Mitchell is determined to move forward with his life and has a goal of becoming a welder to provide for himself and his young son.

Mitchell, who appeared in court by video from Brandon Correctional Centre, apologized for his actions and promised to do better once he gets out of jail, both for himself and for his son.

Judge John Combs told Mitchell he has to do more than just promise to do better — he needs to actually make changes.

“Mr. Mitchell, it’s one thing for you to promise to change,” the judge said. “The one thing that you need is that you need to make sure that you implement those changes once you get into the community.”

Combs emphasized the harms Mitchell has done to businesses and individuals in the community and encouraged him to put an end to his substance use.

Ultimately, the judge found that the time Mitchell has already spent in jail was sufficient to address his charges and sentenced him to time served and a two-year period of probation.

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