R. v. Steeves (C.E.),

• Jurisdiction: New Brunswick
• Judge: Drapeau, C.J.N.B., Deschênes and Richard, JJ.A.
• Neutral Citation: 2005 NBCA 85
• Citation: (2005), 288 N.B.R.(2d) 1 (CA),2005 NBCA 85,288 NBR (2d) 1,200 CCC (3d) 282,[2005] NBJ No 351 (QL),288 NBR(2d) 1,[2005] N.B.J. No 351 (QL),288 N.B.R.(2d) 1,(2005), 288 NBR(2d) 1 (CA)
• Date: 11 May 2005
• Court: Court of Appeal (New Brunswick)

R. v. Steeves (C.E.) (2005), 288 N.B.R.(2d) 1 (CA);

    288 R.N.-B.(2e) 1; 751 A.P.R. 1

MLB headnote and full text

[French language version follows English language version]

[La version française vient à la suite de la version anglaise]

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Temp. Cite: [2005] N.B.R.(2d) TBEd. SE.024

Her Majesty The Queen (appellant) v. Catherine Elizabeth Steeves and Natalie Maria Connors (respondents)

(175/04/CA; 176/04/CA; 2005 NBCA 85)

Indexed As: R. v. Steeves (C.E.) et al.

New Brunswick Court of Appeal

Drapeau, C.J.N.B., Deschênes and Richard, JJ.A.

May 11, 2005.

Summary:

The accused employees pleaded guilty to theft from their employer. In each case, the sentencing judge imposed a one year sus­pended sentence with probation, including 100 hours of community service. The Crown appealed, submitting that the sentencing judge erred in not imposing a custodial sentence. The appeals were heard together.

The New Brunswick Court of Appeal allowed the appeal and substituted six month conditional sentences.

Criminal Law - Topic 5720.4

Punishments (sentence) - Conditional sentence - When available or appropriate - Two employees got caught executing an elaborate scheme to steal from their em­ployer - They pleaded guilty to indictable offences of theft - The employees had worked for the employer for six and 2.5 years respectively - Neither had a criminal record - The sentencing judge imposed a one year suspended sentence with proba­tion, including 100 hours of community service - The Crown appealed, seeking a six month conditional sentence - The New Brunswick Court of Appeal allowed the Crown's appeal - The employees com­mitted multiple thefts over an extended period, the motivation was greed and both held a position of trust - Barring excep­tional circumstances, general deterrence required incarceration for theft from an employer by a person in a position of trust - No exceptional circumstances justified departing from the general rule, although the court did accept the Crown's sub­mission that a substituted sentence of six months should be served in the com­munity.

Criminal Law - Topic 5831.1

Sentencing - Considerations on imposing sentence - Offences involving breach of trust - [See Criminal Law - Topic 5720.4 ].

Criminal Law - Topic 5854

Sentence - Theft - [See Criminal Law - Topic 5720.4 ].

Cases Noticed:

R. v. Little (1981), 34 N.B.R.(2d) 503; 85 A.P.R. 503 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 10].

R. v. McEachern (1978), 42 C.C.C.(2d) 189 (Ont. C.A.), refd to. [para. 10].

R. v. Ross (1985), 61 N.B.R.(2d) 65; 158 A.P.R. 65 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 10].

R. v. McNamara (J.) (1992), 126 N.B.R.(2d) 298; 317 A.P.R. 298 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 10].

R. v. O'Neil (1985), 54 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 153; 160 A.P.R. 153 (Nfld. Dist. Ct.), refd to. [para. 10].

R. v. Pierce (M.) (1997), 97 O.A.C. 253; 114 C.C.C.(3d) 23 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 10].

R. v. Paul (B.A.) (2003), 180 Man.R.(2d) 156; 310 W.A.C. 156 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 10].

R. v. Matchett (H.J.) (1997), 188 N.B.R.(2d) 321; 480 A.P.R. 321 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 13].

R. v. Baldwin (M.) (2000), 232 N.B.R.(2d) 240; 598 A.P.R. 240 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 14].

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. 14].

Counsel:

Patrice B. Deschênes, for the appellant;

No one appearing for the respondents.

This appeal was heard on May 11, 2005, before Drapeau, C.J.N.B., Deschênes and Richard, JJ.A., of the New Brunswick Court of Appeal.

The following judgment was delivered orally by the Court on May 11, 2005, with written reasons filed on September 1, 2005.