Mischief and theft net jail time

MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO NUMEROUS CHARGES

A man who vandalized dozens of vehicles in a southside neighbourhood in June is going to jail for five months.

Twenty-one-year-old Travis Shaw pleaded guilty to 25 counts of mischief as well as a number of charges related to attempts to cash stolen cheques, shoplift alcohol, and breeches of conditions on Thursday in Lethbridge provincial court.

The charges mostly stem from a mischief spree which occurred in the Victoria Park neighbourhood on June 28. Some of his actions were caught on video cameras installed by residents in the area. Some of those images were shared on social media, where Shaw was outed by local residents. Lethbridge Police Service received a large number of calls regarding the issue.

In accepting a joint submission of a five-month sentence, with the addition of probation featuring a counselling requirement, the judge noted there was no violence involved in any of the crimes, but that a number of people had suffered as a result of his actions.

Shaw attended a liquor store where he put a $60 bottle of alcohol down the front of his pants and attempted to exit the building. He was confronted by a clerk who accused him of stealing, and demanded he open his jacket. When he did, the bottle was evident, but Shaw simply ignored the clerk and left.

In regards to two cheques which had been obtained as a result of a vehicle prowling — there was no evidence Shaw was directly involved with the theft of the cheques — he then attempted to deposit the cheques in his own bank account using his own pin number.

“Clearly, this was a very unsophisticated attempt to get the money,” said Crown Prosecutor Clayton Giles.

The mischief spree involved Shaw “tagging” cars and garages with spray paint. The nature of the graffiti did not appear to have any specific point or goal.

“Most of it was a whole bunch of words,” said Giles. “Much of it profane. Much of it random.

“Vulgar material was also painted on the street which belongs to the City of Lethbridge.

And while there were many victims, there was little in actual damage done. Shaw was ordered to pay back close to $600 in restitution.

The Crown stated many of the vehicles and garages were cleaned with no cost incurred to the owners. That did not mean the victims had not suffered, however.

“It must be very distressing to come out of your house and see a blue penis on your car,” Giles said.

Shaw has a degenerative bone cancer that has left him clinically disabled. His lawyer told the court Shaw is also suffering from methamphetamine addiction. It was this addiction plus some extenuating factors which may have resulted in the sudden increase in Shaw’s criminal activity over a three month span.

“This behaviour usually comes from drugs and a need for money,” said Giles.

The addiction issues came as a surprise to his mother, who was in attendance.

“I didn’t know he had a meth addiction,” she said afterward. “That was very hard to hear.”

The judge highlighted the need for Shaw to seek help during his probation period in order to reclaim his life. His mother agreed. “I think some counselling would really do him good,” she said.