Man who burgled three Summerside, P.E.I. schools in drug-fuelled theft and fraud spree sentenced

SUMMERSIDE, P.E.I. — A person who broke into three metropolis faculties and stole, amongst different issues, money that had been paid for pupil images, is hoping time within the federal correctional system will assist along with his drug habit.

Donovan Scott MacCaull, 27, of no mounted deal with, was sentenced in provincial courtroom on Could 26 to 805 days (simply over two years) of incarceration. He additionally obtained time-served credit score for 52 days.

MacCaull pleaded responsible to a complete of 39 costs, most of which relate to theft, fraud, breaching courtroom orders and cashing cheques stolen from a farm the place he had been employed.

In accordance with the details introduced in courtroom, MacCaull was launched from a earlier 14-month-long stint in custody on Feb. 23, 2021, and went to St. Eleanor’s Home in Summerside to work on his habit points.

He was initially in a position to preserve employment and sobriety, however relapsed in October 2021, and spiralled from there, stealing and breaking into buildings on the lookout for fast money to feed his behavior.

“He’s hopeful, and definitely it’s extra of a hope than a actuality or surety, I ought to say, that there might be totally different programming obtainable to him within the federal system, and hopefully he’ll be capable to deal with a few of the underlying points,” mentioned Thane MacEachern, MacCaull’s lawyer.

“His time within the provincial correctional system has not been constructive and it’s not confirmed to essentially change a lot of his behaviour. So, he’s hoping that one thing adjustments,” mentioned MacEachern.

In October of 2021, MacCaull was working for and dwelling at a neighborhood farm when he took an organization car with out permission. The car was later discovered deserted.

MacCaull additionally took a number of cheques from the corporate. Over a number of days in late November and early December 2021, he managed to open numerous accounts at banks in Summerside and Charlottetown, deposited the cheques into them and withdrew greater than $20,000 in money.

All through February of 2022, MacCaull was busted for shoplifting on the Residence Depot in Charlottetown and for utilizing financial institution playing cards stolen from automobiles. He was arrested and given a courtroom date however didn’t present up.

Then, on Sunday, April 17, 2022, MacCaull smashed doorways or home windows and broke into Summerside’s Greenfield Elementary, Athena Consolidated, and École-sur-Mer. He stole numerous instruments, money that had been for pupil images, and cheques.

MacCaull’s fingerprints have been discovered by police on an envelope at one of many scenes.

Throughout questioning, he initially said he’d been too excessive to recollect the day of the break-ins however admitted to the thefts after being confronted with the proof. He mentioned he’s usually too excessive to obviously keep in mind when he commits a theft.

The worth of the gadgets within the stolen car and on the faculties totalled a number of thousand {dollars}.

In complete, the courtroom accredited a number of restitution orders for a complete of about $27,157.

In her feedback, Choose Krista J. MacKay mentioned that each time she has sentenced somebody for trafficking medicine locally, she notes that a part of the collateral hurt they trigger is from individuals like MacCaull who’re addicts and who’re pushed to steal to feed their habit.

She additionally wished MacCaull luck along with his restoration.

“Clearly there’s some points to be handled, so hopefully with the sentence that you just’re about to get, you may get some assist on the penitentiary together with your points. You’re younger and you continue to have time to alter. I want that for you. I hope I don’t see you once more right here after this. The truth that you will have such a prolonged report at such a younger age makes me a little bit leery as as to whether that may occur, however definitely, we’re hopeful that it may occur when you get the assistance that you just want whilst you’re in jail for the following 753 days.”

Colin MacLean is a reporter with the SaltWire Community in Prince Edward Island. [email protected] @JournalPMacLean