P.E.I. man pleads guilty to theft from laundromat
CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. — A P.E.I. man charged with stealing cash from a laundromat with a pair of scissors has pleaded responsible in provincial court docket.
Adrian Steven Gallant, 31, was initially charged with theft with a weapon. Nonetheless, on Nov. 28 in provincial court docket in Charlottetown, Gallant agreed to plead responsible to theft underneath $5,000.
Stole $20
Crown legal professional Jeff MacDonald learn in court docket the details associated to the incident. He stated that on Friday, Nov. 18 at round 6:15 p.m., Gallant and one other man had been contained in the Tremendous Clear Coin Laundromat in Charlottetown. Gallant then went behind the counter and grabbed a pair of scissors. Video surveillance footage seen by police confirmed Gallant waving the scissors round. Gallant positioned the scissors on the counter. When the worker tried to seize the scissors, Gallant picked them up once more and began urgent buttons on the money register till it opened. When it did, he grabbed $20. Gallant and the opposite man left the shop earlier than police arrived.
The worker was fearful as a result of Gallant pointed the scissors at her whereas she phoned police, stated MacDonald. Gallant was recognized by video footage in addition to by the worker. He was arrested on Nov. 21.
Shouting in court docket
Gallant first appeared in court docket on the theft cost on Nov. 24 earlier than Chief Choose Jeff Lantz. Gallant appeared by video from the Provincial Correctional Centre. For many of the temporary court docket look, Gallant was irate, yelled and used profanity when discussing the cost and refusing to get a lawyer. “Simply give me the time,” he shouted. “I am going to plead responsible to all of it. That is what I at all times do.”
The problem of Gallant’s psychological well being was then raised. MacDonald stated Gallant had undergone a psychological well being evaluation inside the previous 18 months and was discovered to be accountable and match for court docket functions.
Theft cost amended
On the Nov. 28 court docket look, Gallant was calmer when addressing the court docket.
Whereas nonetheless charged with theft with a weapon, Gallant was introduced together with his choices to elect to have the matter heard by a provincial court docket choose or in P.E.I. Supreme Courtroom by choose alone or choose and jury. If Gallant elected Supreme Courtroom, he additionally had the choice to have a preliminary inquiry within the matter.
When requested by Lantz if he understood these choices, Gallant stated, “not likely”. Gallant then requested, “what does Supreme Courtroom imply?”
MacDonald advised that since Gallant was self-represented and did not perceive his choices, a lawyer appearing as a buddy of the court docket needs to be appointed to help.
However after additional dialogue, MacDonald amended the cost to theft underneath $5,000, explaining that the Crown would have a “actually onerous time” proving theft. The modification gave Gallant the one possibility of getting the matter handled in provincial court docket.
Different prices
Gallant can be going through unrelated prices of prowling at evening and making an attempt to interrupt right into a residence and commit an indictable offence on Oct. 3 on Weymouth Avenue in Charlottetown. Gallant pleaded not responsible to the fees and elected provincial court docket.
Lantz adjourned all the issues to Dec. 13 at 9 a.m. for trial in addition to for sentencing on the laundromat theft.
Gallant has a previous felony file and is presently in custody serving a 60-day jail sentence from Nov. 23 in provincial court docket in Summerside for theft underneath $5,000 and trespassing. These offences occurred on Sept. 7.
Terrence McEachern is a justice reporter with the SaltWire Community in Prince Edward Island. He could be reached by e-mail at [email protected] and could be adopted on Twitter @terry_mcn.
