P.E.I. man gets jail for drunk driving in stolen truck, break-ins

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CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. — Breaking into two companies and crashing a stolen truck into a lightweight pole at UPEI whereas driving drunk and being chased by police have led to a 15-month jail sentence for a P.E.I. man.

Darcy Gregory Chandler, 28, pleaded responsible and was sentenced on Nov. 21 in provincial court docket in Charlottetown for the offences – two counts of break and enter, theft of a motorized vehicle, impaired driving, driving whereas prohibited, flight from police, theft and property injury.

Chandler appeared by video from the Provincial Correctional Centre for sentencing.

Stealing truck, drunk driving crash

Crown lawyer John Diamond informed the court docket that on Aug. 3, Chandler stole a truck from a residence in Brackley Seaside. Charlottetown police acquired a report that the stolen truck was within the metropolis. The automobile proprietor was capable of observe the automobile and discovered that it was on the Nice Canadian Bagel on College Avenue. A police officer noticed the truck and activated the overhead emergency lights. The truck drove by way of the parking zone and onto College Avenue whereas being chased by police. Chandler ran a pink mild on the Belvedere and College Avenue intersection and continued driving. On the UPEI intersection, Chandler slowed down, made a large proper flip, drove onto the median and crashed into a lightweight pole.

Flight from police

Chandler bought out of the truck and began to run away however circled when police informed him to cease. Police believed that Chandler was driving drunk and he was arrested. On the police station, Chandler supplied two breathalyzer samples of 110 milligrams (mg) and 100 mg of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood. Readings of 80 mg of alcohol and better are a Felony Code of Canada offence.

Brackley Seaside break-ins

A couple of month afterward Sept. 7 and Sept. 8, Chandler and one other man broke into two companies in Brackley Seaside – Deckers Dairy Bar and Grill and Shirley’s Snack Bar. At Shirley’s, they stole a small amount of cash, a number of cans of beer, a laptop computer and instruments. Chandler and the opposite man broke into the enterprise by way of a again door that was broken. Video surveillance footage from contained in the enterprise confirmed Chandler accessing a bar fridge whereas the opposite man may very well be heard speaking.

The pair then went throughout the Brackley Level Highway and broke into Deckers by way of a window. At that enterprise, they stole a black protected and a tip jar containing $50. Chandler was on digital monitoring and serving an intermittent sentence on the time of the break-ins. Digital monitoring knowledge confirmed that Chandler was at each companies on the time of the offences.

Chandler’s 18-page legal report contains convictions for theft, possession of stolen property and impaired driving, mentioned Diamond.

Critical alcohol habit

For the offences, Diamond really helpful a complete sentence of 15 months in jail. The sentence breaks down into 75 days in jail for impaired driving, 30 days concurrent for flight from police, 45 days concurrent for driving whereas disqualified, 180 days (six months) consecutive for theft of the motorized vehicle, 180 days (six months) consecutive for the primary break-and-enter, 30 days concurrent for theft, 180 days (six months) concurrent for the second break-and-enter and 15 days consecutive for property injury. Diamond defined the 2 break-and-enter suggestions have been concurrent since they have been a part of the identical spree.

The sentence was a joint suggestion from Diamond and legal-aid lawyer Justin Milne.

On the time of the offences, Chandler was coping with a really critical alcohol habit. Through the years, Chandler has tried remedy applications and nonetheless needs to get assist for his alcohol habit, mentioned Milne.

15-month jail sentence, restitution

Chief Decide Jeff Lantz accepted the joint suggestion and sentenced Chandler to a complete of 15 months in jail and two years of probation. Chandler was given enhanced credit score of 66 days of pre-sentence custody.

Chandler was additionally ordered to pay $9,200 in restitution to the truck proprietor together with $4,650 to UPEI for injury to the sunshine pole, $1,136.60 for the offences at Shirley’s and $463.85 to Deckers.

Terrence McEachern is a justice reporter with SaltWire in Prince Edward Island. He will be reached by e mail at [email protected] and will be adopted on X @terry_mcn.