P.E.I. man gets jail for laundromat theft, prowling
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CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. — Prowling at night time exterior of a Charlottetown residence and stealing $20 from a laundromat whereas waving a pair of scissors has led to a six-month jail sentence for a P.E.I. man.
Adrian Steven Gallant, 31, was scheduled to face trial on Dec. 13 in provincial court docket in Charlottetown for the prowling allegation at Weymouth Road in October in addition to making an attempt to interrupt into the residence and breach of probation.
Nevertheless, after talking with Crown lawyer Jeff MacDonald previous to the beginning of the trial, Gallant agreed to plead responsible solely to prowling at night time and breaching probation.
Prowling at night time
With the responsible pleas in place, MacDonald informed the court docket that on Oct. 3 at round 10:10 p.m., Gallant was exterior of a residence on Weymouth Road standing by the again door. A canine began barking and altered the house owner, who referred to as police to report that somebody was making an attempt to interrupt into his residence.
MacDonald additionally performed in court docket video footage that confirmed Gallant standing close to the again or aspect entrance of the residence. MacDonald mentioned he had questions on what Gallant was doing on the door however could not say past an affordable doubt that he was making an attempt to interrupt into the residence. MacDonald entered a keep of proceedings with the tried break and enter cost.
When Gallant was given the prospect to talk in court docket, he admitted to making an attempt to enter the residence. Gallant mentioned that he tries to enter porch areas at residences on the lookout for a protected place to sleep. He then defined that earlier that night time, one other man electrocuted him with {an electrical} wire and punched him 4 occasions within the head. Gallant mentioned he was on the residence’s doorway making an attempt to cover from the person and tried to enter the residence to be protected.
“It was a extremely scary night time”, Gallant mentioned. “It was terrifying, and I did get electrocuted that night time”.
Laundromat theft
Gallant was beforehand in provincial court docket on Nov. 28 and pleaded responsible to theft below $5,000 on the Tremendous Clear Laundromat at 249 College Ave. In keeping with the information learn in court docket, Gallant and one other man had been on the laundromat at round 6:15 p.m. Gallant grabbed a pair of scissors and commenced waving them round contained in the enterprise. Whereas nonetheless holding the scissors, Gallant opened the money register and stole $20. Gallant and the opposite man left the scene previous to police arriving. An worker informed police she was fearful as a result of Gallant pointed the scissors at her. Gallant was arrested the next day on Nov. 19.
On the Nov. 28 court docket look, MacDonald amended the preliminary cost of theft to theft below $5,000.
Hazard to the general public
MacDonald referenced in court docket a previous psychological well being health report ready by a forensic psychiatrist in 2021 that states that Gallant is presently affected by schizophrenia and addictions points. MacDonald added that the most effective place for Gallant is a safe psychiatric facility so he can obtain therapy, however that wasn’t an choice presently earlier than the court docket. MacDonald beneficial the six-month jail sentence, explaining that in Gallant’s present situation, he’s a hazard to the general public.
Gallant’s prolonged prior legal file consists of a number of convictions for theft and trespassing in addition to convictions for property injury, possession of a weapon, possession of stolen property, assault, assault with a weapon and assaulting a peace officer.
Six-month jail sentence
After listening to the submissions, Chief Decide Jeff Lantz sentenced Gallant to a few months in jail for the theft from the laundromat, one other three months for prowling at night time on the Waymouth Road residence and one month concurrent for breaching probation.
Gallant was given enhanced credit score of 36 days in custody since his arrest on Nov. 19 that was deducted from the six-month sentence. Along with the jail time, Lantz sentenced Gallant to 18 months of probation, which incorporates carrying an digital monitoring bracelet on the discretion of a probation officer. He’s additionally not allowed on the Weymouth Road residence or the laundromat in the course of the probation interval.
Gallant was self-represented in court docket.
Terrence McEachern is a justice reporter with the SaltWire Community in Prince Edward Island. He could be reached by electronic mail at [email protected] and could be adopted on Twitter @terry_mcn.
