R. v. Brazeau (T.T.), (2007) 423 A.R. 394 (PC)

• Judge: Shriar, P.C.J.
• Court: Provincial Court of Alberta (Canada)
• Case Date: April 13, 2007
• Citations: (2007), 423 A.R. 394 (PC);2007 ABPC 105

R. v. Brazeau (T.T.) (2007), 423 A.R. 394 (PC)

MLB headnote and full text

Temp. Cite: [2007] A.R. TBEd. MY.028

Her Majesty The Queen v. Tanya Theresa Brazeau (051228278P101; 2007 ABPC 105)

Indexed As: R. v. Brazeau (T.T.)

Alberta Provincial Court

Shriar, P.C.J.

April 13, 2007.

Summary:

The accused Canada Post employee pleaded guilty to theft of mail (Criminal Code, s. 356(1)(a)) and tampering with mail (Canada Post Corporation Act, s. 48). The Crown sought a 12-15 month jail sentence. The accused sought a 12-18 month conditional sentence.

The Alberta Provincial Court imposed a 15 month conditional sentence.

Criminal Law - Topic 5720.4

Punishments (sentence) - Conditional sentence - When available or appropriate - [See Criminal Law - Topic 5854.1 ].

Criminal Law - Topic 5831.1

Sentencing - Considerations on imposing sentence - Offences involving breach of trust - [See Criminal Law - Topic 5854.1 ].

Criminal Law - Topic 5854.1

Sentence - Theft - From mail - The 25 year old accused Canada Post employee pleaded guilty to theft of mail (Criminal Code, s. 356(1)(a)) and tampering with mail (Canada Post Corporation Act, s. 48) - Following complaints of missing and opened mail, an investigation resulted in finding dozens of credit cards, cheques, drivers' licences, social insurance cards, bank cards, etc., in the accused's residence - The accused had also collected personal information on at least one person, including their birthday, bank account number, address and phone number - The accused was a first offender - After several abusive relationships, she became involved in a relationship with her drug dealer when she was addicted to methamphetamines - Until then, the accused was a responsible, hard working young woman - Subsequent to the offences, the accused stopped using drugs and was obtaining treatment - She was remorseful, again employed and assessed as a good candidate for a conditional sentence - The Crown, emphasizing the breach of trust and the seriousness of the offences, sought a period of incarceration - The Alberta Provincial Court imposed a 15 month conditional sentence, finding that it met both the punitive and restorative objectives of the sentencing provisions of the Criminal Code.

Post Office - Topic 4103

Offences - Punishments - Mail tampering - [See Criminal Law - Topic 5854.1 ].

Cases Noticed:

R. v. Proulx (J.K.D.), [2000] 1 S.C.R. 61; 249 N.R. 201; 142 Man.R.(2d) 161; 212 W.A.C. 161, refd to. [para. 13].

R. v. Pierce (M.) (1997), 97 O.A.C. 253; 114 C.C.C.(3d) 23 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 15].

R. v. Hashem (H.) (1997), 200 A.R. 312; 146 W.A.C. 312 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 15].

R. v. Reid (W.) (2004), 194 B.C.A.C. 18; 317 W.A.C. 18 (Yuk. C.A.), refd to. [para. 15].

R. v. Khan (M.) et al. (2002), 181 B.C.A.C. 3; 298 W.A.C. 3 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 15].

R. v. Monty (1991), 96 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 359; 305 A.P.R. 359 (P.E.I.C.A.), refd to. [para. 15].

R. v. Oakley (1990), 85 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 331; 266 A.P.R. 331 (P.E.I.C.A.), refd to. [para. 15].

R. v. Mohebtash (M.), [2006] B.C.T.C. 944 (S.C.), refd to. [para. 15].

R. v. Coxall, [2006] B.C.J. No. 107 (Prov. Ct.), refd to. [para. 15].

R. v. Victorino, [1999] O.J. No. 1782 (Gen. Div.), refd to. [para. 15].

R. v. Cutbush, [1998] O.J. No. 5650 (Prov. Div.), refd to. [para. 15].

R. v. Gallant (S.J.) (1998), 166 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 334; 511 A.P.R. 334 (P.E.I.T.D.), refd to. [para. 15].

R. v. Cossette-Trudel (1979), 52 C.C.C.(2d) 352 (Que. S.P.), refd to. [para. 15].

R. v. Bunn (T.A.) (2000), 249 N.R. 296; 142 Man.R.(2d) 256; 212 W.A.C. 256; 140 C.C.C.(3d) 505 (S.C.C.), refd to. [para. 15].

R. v. Turner (L.L.), [2006] A.R. Uned. 626 (Prov. Ct.), refd to. [para. 18].

R. v. Barber (D.A.) (2005), 394 A.R. 228 (Prov. Ct.), refd to. [para. 18].

R. v. Weerasooriya, [2006] A.J. No. 1070, refd to. [para. 18].

R. v. McConnell (J.J.), [2006] A.R. Uned. 347 (Prov. Ct.), refd to. [para. 18].

R. v. Tonks, [2003] B.C.J. No. 3042 (Prov Ct.), refd to. [para. 18].

R. v. Swiston, [1995] A.J. No. 1659 (Prov. Ct.), refd to. [para. 18].

R. v. Stevelman (D.), [2003] A.R. Uned. 547 (Q.B.), refd to. [para. 18].

R. v. Nookiguak, [1989] N.W.T.J. No. 97 (S.C.), refd to. [para. 18].

R. v. Caparelli, [1989] A.J. No. 809 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 18].

R. v. Clark, [1988] M.J. No. 392 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 18].

R. v. Miller (W.) (1987), 67 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 327; 206 A.P.R. 327 (Nfld. T.D.), refd to. [para. 18].

R. v. Armstrong (C.C.) (2001), 289 A.R. 141 (Prov. Ct.), refd to. [para. 18].

Counsel:

Lynn Cunningham, for the Crown;

Katherin Beyak, for the accused.

This case was heard at Okotoks, Alberta, before Shriar, P.C.J., of the Alberta Provincial Court, who delivered the following judgment on April 13, 2007.