Woman given chance to avoid sentence

Jillian Aloysia Sentner pleads guilty to stealing bottle of rum

A Charlottetown woman who stole a bottle of rum from a liquor store last year has been given the chance to prove herself before a sentence is issued.

Jillian Aloysia Sentner, 25, appeared before Judge John Douglas in provincial court recently after previously pleading guilty to stealing a $15.69 bottle of Malibu Rum on March 22, 2017.

Crown attorney Valerie Moore told the court that Sentner entered the Queen Street location that afternoon, concealed the bottle of rum and left the store without making any effort to pay.

While Sentner had no previous theft charges, Moore pointed out the accused does have a record that includes mischief and breach of probation.

For the 2016 mischief count, Sentner received two years of probation and a $2,510 restitution order, which has not been paid. Moore said Sentner completed three and a half hours of the 100 hours required as part of her community service.

Moore said she believed a “sober reflection” in a correctional centre could serve a “useful purpose” for Sentner, who has a history of battling drug addiction.

Defence attorney Thane MacEachern told the court about the positive strides Sentner has made to get her life on track in recent months, including attending a support group and participating in the methadone program, working with Child and Family Services when it comes to helping her daughter and getting on a wait list for mental health care at McGill Centre.

The most significant thing Sentner has done, MacEachern said, is getting accepted into the customer service certificate course at Holland College.

“She continues moving forward,” he said.

“It’s easy to say, ‘put her in jail because she’s not getting the message’, but I think it’s also important to acknowledge that she is getting the message and she is trying to deal with her issues.”

Douglas took the guilty plea into account, suspended passing a sentence and placed Sentner on 12 months of probation, with terms that she keep the peace and be of good behaviour.

She is not allowed to go to the Queen Street liquor store, must make restitution in the amount of $15.69 and pay a $100 victim surcharge fee.

She must also complete the Holland College program, continue with the methadone program and “stay out of trouble”.

“If you don’t follow through and apply yourself, it will certainly be considered an aggravating factor on sentencing,” Douglas said.

Sentner will reappear in court June 4 to see if she met the requirements and to deal with other charges, including two counts of theft that occurred after the March 2017 incident.