Manitoban pleads guilty to shoplifting, bail breach
It was a quick guilty plea Thursday for one of three Manitobans arrested Tuesday by Medicine Hat Police in connection to stolen property.
Steven James Fontaine, Desmond Arthur Houle and Elizabeth Racette had their first appearance at the Medicine Hat Courthouse, with Houle entering guilty pleas to shoplifting and breaching his bail conditions.
The three were arrested June 6 after police on patrol noticed a suspicious vehicle in the area of 12 Street NW, and learned both the licence plate and vehicle had been reported stolen from Winnipeg. When the officer attempted to arrest the three occupants of the vehicle, one was taken into custody, while the other two fled on foot. A short pursuit occurred, with both eventually taken into custody.
Houle, of Selkirk, Man., is currently on bail over charges from Manitoba for assault with a weapon and assault causing bodily harm. By being here, he was breaching his curfew conditions. The shoplifting charge comes from an allegation that he and Fontaine stole $30 of food from a local convenience store. The judge gave Houle a $50 fine, plus credit for the time he has spent in custody — and directions for him to get back to Manitoba as soon as possible, as otherwise he will be once again breaching his release conditions.
Despite his curfew and residence requirements — Houle had become homeless with no place to go, so had decided to travel with the Racette and Fontaine, who were apparently coming to Medicine Hat for a drug treatment program. Houle was not aware that the vehicle he was travelling in was stolen.
Fontaine has been charged with three counts of possessing stolen property, one count of shoplifting, one count of obstructing a police officer and one count of failing to comply with court conditions. Racette has been charged with four counts of possessing stolen property, one count of obstructing a police officer, and count of failure to comply with court conditions.
Fontaine and Racette’s next court appearance is set for June 13.