Gasoline theft lands man probation

A Lethbridge man who got roped into a scheme to steal gasoline from a vehicle, has avoided a jail sentence but not probation.

Jordan Russell Onofrychuk, 24, pleaded guilty Friday in Lethbridge court of justice to one count of theft under $5,000 and was handed a suspended sentence and placed on probation for a year.

Court was told Onofrychuk got himself “rooked” into helping a friend steal some gasoline last March. Armed with some jerry cans, they approached a cube van parked at a commercial business on the northside. While Onofrychuk stayed with the car the two men arrived in, the other man approached the van, but instead of trying to syphon gas out the old fashioned way, he crawled under the van and drilled a hole in the gas tank, causing about $2,200 in damage.

Crown prosecutor Clayton Giles noted it was probably good that Onofrychuk remained with the vehicle, because after the other man drilled the hole in the gas tank, the incident “took an ugly turn” and he was caught in the process of stealing the gas.

While he is on probation, Onofrychuk, who does not have a criminal record, is not to have any contact with the other man, or go near the commercial business. He must also make restitution of $2,200 for the damages the other man caused.

“Mr. Onofrychuk hadn’t been in any trouble with the law before his little mishap,” Giles said. “Frankly he likely got dragged in to a certain extent.”

Duty counsel lawyer Brett Carlson told court Onofrychuk, who was addicted to methamphetamine, works full-time as an auto mechanic and has rehabilitated himself since the incident.

Carlson said Onofrychuk has rehabilitated himself, written a letter of apology to the victim, accepted responsibility for his role in the crime, and has removed himself from the negative people in his life.