Warrant issued for poppy box thief

WOMAN WAS SCHEDULED TO ANSWER TO ANOTHER CHARGE OF THEFT

A 43-year-old woman who narrowly avoided jail for stealing charity money last year may soon be back in custody.

Judge C. Spence gave KellyAnn Larson a break last month in Lethbridge provincial court when he rejected a recommendation by the Crown that the woman spend more time in jail for stealing poppy fund boxes on Remembrance Day in 2015.

Crown prosecutor Michael Fox sought a fourmonth sentence for the Edmonton woman, who pleaded guilty in September to several counts of shoplifting and theft under $5,000. Fox reminded the judge Larson not only stole items from three stores in Edmonton in August 2015, she later also stole local poppy fund boxes. He pointed out society takes a dim view of stealing from charitable organizations and said a jail sentence, in addition to time she already spent in remand after she was arrested, is necessary to satisfy the principles of sentencing, which include denunciation and deterrence.

But Spence said Larson had served enough time in remand — the equivalent of 42 days — and didn’t deserve to remain behind bars.

“Is that not enough jail, Crown?” Spence asked during a sentencing hearing Sept. 21.

Spence said the recommended sentence was “out of whack,” and the charges, including three counts of shoplifting from mall stores in Edmonton, were minor and did not warrant more jail, given recent circumstances in Larson’s life. He handed her a suspended sentence instead and placed her on probation for 18 months.

Court was told Larson’s husband committed suicide only months before she committed the offences and stole the poppy boxes from four Lethbridge businesses Nov. 11. Then her daughter died of a fentanyl overdose and her family blamed her for both deaths.

Spence explained Larson must, as part of her probation, be assessed and take alcohol abuse and grief counselling. She must also provide 50 hours of community service and find a job. He then told her that court was putting a lot of faith in her.

Larson was expected back in court this week to resolve an outstanding charge of theft under $5,000, but she failed to show up. Court was told she had called Native Counselling before her hearing, but the information she provided was no good and there was no way to contact her to find out why she didn’t show up for court.

A warrant was issued for her arrest.