REGINA – Pleading guilty to charges of theft and mischief, one Regina man was released from custody, having served more time than was sentenced to him.
Jamie Keshane appeared by video from the Regina Provincial Correctional Centre on July 13 in Regina Provincial Court, facing charges of theft plus break and enter to a dwelling house - which was amended to mischief by unlawful interference. The Crown stayed a further count of failure to attend court in light of the pleas.
According to facts presented by the Crown, the theft occurred on Aug. 18 of last year when police received a call regarding a shoplifting incident at Rexall Drugs. On that date, a man later identified as Keshane had stolen fragrances valued at $2,281. Surveillance footage from an in-store camera was used to confirm the identify of the shoplifter by police.
As for the mischief charge, Keshane was one of at least four individuals who had been inside a building on the 1100 block of Queen Street on May 11. On that date, police were alerted to a break and enter in progress from the home owner. The house was supposed to be empty, and boards covering the front and back doors were removed. Aside from the doors being damaged, the complainant advised the interior was filthy, with an estimated $6,000 in damages to the home.
Legal Aid counsel noted in their submissions that this was not the first instance that the building had been occupied by people who were not actively renting the premises. They also noted Keshane battles addiction issues and was also hospitalized in the recent past for a lung infection. Given Keshane’s circumstances, Legal Aid asked that the victim fine surcharge not be imposed.
In a joint submission, both the Crown and Legal Aid suggested a sentence of 60 days - 30 days for each charge - be served. Keshane had already been in custody for 64 actual days, and was ordered released by Judge Murray Hinds, who also waived the victim fine surcharge.
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