R. v. Roberts (F.), (2015) 374 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 357 (NLPC)

• Judge: Gorman, P.C.J.
• Court: Newfoundland and Labrador Provincial Court (Canada)
• Case Date: October 23, 2015
• Jurisdiction: Newfoundland and Labrador
• Citations: (2015), 374 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 357 (NLPC);2015 NLPC 1314

R. v. Roberts (F.) (2015), 374 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 357 (NLPC);

    1164 A.P.R. 357

MLB headnote and full text

Temp. Cite: [2015] Nfld. & P.E.I.R. TBEd. DE.025

Her Majesty the Queen v. Frederick Roberts

(2015 NLPC 1314A00663)

Indexed As: R. v. Roberts (F.)

Newfoundland and Labrador Provincial Court

Gorman, P.C.J.

November 2, 2015.

Summary:

The accused was convicted of theft (two convictions) for stealing razor blades from a drug store on two occasions. The matter moved to sentencing.

The Newfoundland and Labrador Provincial Court suspended the sentence and placed the accused on probation for 12 months.

Criminal Law - Topic 5704

Punishments (sentence) - Suspended sentence - Circumstances when appropriate - The accused, age 38, was convicted of theft (two convictions) for stealing razor blades from a drug store - Eight previous convictions (last one in 2008) - Long history of drug and alcohol abuse, but making progress - Was employed and had own apartment - Had three children - Imprisonment would jeopardize job and apartment - The Newfoundland and Labrador Provincial Court noted that sentencing judges had to consider whether there were reasonable alternatives to the imposition of imprisonment - In this case, despite the accused's criminal record, a reasonable alternative to imprisonment existed, i.e., the imposition of a suspended sentence with a period of probation - That was a reasonable alternative because the offence was not serious and his rehabilitation should be encouraged - Therefore, the court imposed a suspended sentence and a period of probation of 12 months.

Criminal Law - Topic 5726

Punishments (sentence) - Probation or probation order - Circumstances when permissible - [See Criminal Law - Topic 5704 ].

Criminal Law - Topic 5854

Sentence - Theft - [See Criminal Law - Topic 5704 ].

Cases Noticed:

R. v. Pham - see R. v. Ly (T.Q.).

R. v. Ly (T.Q.), [2013] 1 S.C.R. 739; 441 N.R. 375; 544 A.R. 40; 567 W.A.C. 40; 2013 SCC 15, refd to. [para. 2].

R. v. May (T.G.) (2012), 533 A.R. 182; 557 W.A.C. 182; 2012 ABCA 213, refd to. [para. 3].

R. v. Gladue (J.T.), [1999] 1 S.C.R. 688; 238 N.R. 1; 121 B.C.A.C. 161; 198 W.A.C. 161, refd to. [para. 3].

R. v. Knott (D.W.) (2012), 433 N.R. 38; 324 B.C.A.C. 1; 551 W.A.C. 1; 2012 SCC 42, refd to. [para. 5].

R. v. Klemenz (G.) (2015), 465 Sask.R. 134; 649 W.A.C. 134; 2015 SKCA 89, refd to. [para. 6].

R. v. Berner (C.-A.) (2013), 337 B.C.A.C. 146; 576 W.A.C. 146; 2013 BCCA 188, refd to. [para. 7].

R. v. Cluney (N.) (2013), 338 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 57; 1049 A.P.R. 57; 2013 NLCA 46, refd to. [para. 10].

R. v. Briand (R.) et al. (2010), 302 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 67; 938 A.P.R. 67 (N.L.C.A.), refd to. [para. 11].

Director of Public Prosecutions v. Wiggins, [2015] IECA 178, refd to. [para. 17].

R. v. Crocker (A.) (2015), 370 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 348; 1136 A.P.R. 348 (N.L. Prov. Ct.), refd to. [para. 18].

R. v. Basha (D.) (2015), 364 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 92; 1136 A.P.R. 92 (N.L. Prov. Ct.), refd to. [para. 18].

R. v. Prowse (J.) (1998), 168 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 289; 517 A.P.R. 289 (Nfld. C.A.), refd to. [para. 18].

R. v. C.C. (2012), 322 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 77; 1000 A.P.R. 77 (N.L. Prov. Ct.), refd to. [para. 18].

R. v. Reid (K.D.) (2012), 324 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 351; 1007 A.P.R. 351 (N.L. Prov. Ct.), refd to. [para. 18].

R. v. Roberts (F.B.) (2013), 338 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 116; 1049 A.P.R. 116 (N.L. Prov. Ct.), refd to. [para. 18].

R. v. J.B. (2013), 338 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 333; 1049 A.P.R. 333 (N.L. Prov. Ct.), refd to. [para. 18].

R. v. Park (A.S.) (2013), 339 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 1; 1054 A.P.R. 1 (N.L. Prov. Ct.), refd to. [para. 18].

R. v. Sutherland (B.J.) (2013), 334 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 118; 1037 A.P.R. 118 (N.L. Prov. Ct.), refd to. [para. 18].

R. v. Durnford (D.A.) (2014), 345 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 330; 1074 A.P.R. 330 (N.L. Prov. Ct.), refd to. [para. 18].

R. v. K.C. (2014), 350 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 106; 1088 A.P.R. 106 (N.L. Prov. Ct.), refd to. [para. 18].

R. v. Bennett (T.J.) (2014), 347 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 73; 1080 A.P.R. 73 (N.L. Prov. Ct.), refd to. [para. 18].

R. v. Sutherland (B.J.) (2014), 352 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 276; 1097 A.P.R. 276 (N.L. Prov. Ct.), refd to. [para. 18].

R. v. Jacobs (M.) (2015), 360 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 333; 1118 A.P.R. 333 (N.L. Prov. Ct.), refd to. [para. 18].

R. v. Rowe (D.) (2008), 273 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 38; 833 A.P.R. 38; 2008 NLCA 3, refd to. [para. 18].

R. v. E.W. (2002), 216 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 89; 647 A.P.R. 89 (N.L.C.A.), refd to. [para. 18].

Archbold v. R., [2015] NZCA 493, refd to. [para. 20].

Counsel:

L. St. Croix, for Her Majesty the Queen;

S. MacKinnon, for Mr. Roberts.

This sentencing matter was heard in Corner Brook, NL, on October 23, 2015, before Gorman, P.C.J., of the Newfoundland and Labrador Provincial Court, who delivered the following decision on November 2, 2015.