No jail for man caught in garage

A P.E.I. man who was in someone’s garage and was caught when the homeowner took out their garbage was recently given a 30-day conditional sentence for prowling at night.

Devon Morris MacLean, 30, appeared before Judge Jeff Lantz in provincial court in Charlottetown by video from jail where he was serving a sentence for an unrelated offence.

During a previous court appearance, MacLean pleaded guilty to one count of prowling at night.

The court heard that on June 25 at 5:15 a.m., MacLean was caught on video riding a bike up to a home in Charlottetown.

MacLean was seen going up the driveway, walking to the garage and looking inside before going in.

The homeowner was taking out the garbage when they heard a noise and saw MacLean in the garage with a lighter.

MacLean put his hands up and left on the bike but was later arrested.

Lantz initially adjourned the matter to give MacLean time to finish a sentence he was serving on an unrelated matter.

When he was back before the court on the prowling charge, Lantz said arrangements had been made for MacLean to be released that day and go to the addiction treatment transition unit.

Before hearing his sentence, MacLean apologized to the court for his actions.

With the conditional sentence, MacLean will be under house arrest after his release from the transition unit.

Once the sentencing was finished, MacLean addressed the court to ask how he could get a publication ban, saying it is hard to get a job when his name is in the newspaper.

Lantz told MacLean he couldn’t get a publication ban.

Along with the conditional sentence, MacLean will be on probation for one year.