Couple sentenced for spree

Man sent to jail for 173 days, wife on house arrest in Apsley area break-in spree last summer

Sometimes an apology just isn’t enough.

Mr. Justice Robert Beninger acknowledged the written apology from Sean Balek and Shannon Tyson as he sentenced the couple Thursday morning in Ontario Court of Justice.

But Balek’s sentence needed to reflect his crimes, the judge said.

Balek pleaded guilty to 47 charges relating to thefts and mischiefs and one break and enter for breaking into vehicles, boats and provincial park facilities in the Apsley area during a crime spree in the early summer of 2012.

Tyson, his girlfriend, pleaded guilty to six counts for her role in helping Balek.

Between the two of them the couple damaged 50 vehicles and stole $10,000 to $20,000 worth of electronic goods, cash, jewelry, wallets and clothes from 61 different victims. Most of the vehicles were parked in the areas around Wolf Lake, Anstruther Lake, Mississauga Lake and Eels Lake.

Most of the victims, Beninger said, were cottagers and local residents.

“Some of them were victimized three or four times,” he said.

Court heard that Balek did most of the dirty work. On a few occasions Tyson would bring her children with them and leave them in their vehicle.

Beninger noted that the author of a pre-sentence report wrote that Balek showed little remorse and lacked insight into his actions.

Tyson and Balek together wrote a letter to the court and their victims about a month ago, apologizing for what happened.

“It was not our intention to cause any damage or inconvenience,” the pair wrote. The letter goes on to describe their actions as “deviant” and “stupid.”

The couple blamed the thefts on financial troubles and a lack of employment, stating that they hope to help others in similar situations avoid the road they’ve travelled.

Court heard that Balek now has a job.

His lawyer, James Hauraney, asked Beninger to consider a house arrest sentence or a sentence that would allow Balek to keep working.

Beninger opted to put him in jail.

“Nothing less would adequately address the damage inflicted on the community over a substantial period of time,” he said.

Given the opportunity to speak, Balek apologized again but said he may now be out of a job.

“I wish it didn’t come down to jail time,” he said.

Beninger gave him credit for seven days in custody, leaving him to serve a sentence of 173 days. Once he’s out of jail he’ll be on probation for two years. He was also ordered to pay $3,000 restitution.

Tyson, who recently gave birth to the couple’s child, was sentenced to nine months of house arrest.

Beninger ordered her to serve the first six months under strict house arrest conditions. She was granted a little leeway for the last three months of the sentence, so long as she abides by an 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. curfew.

The couple hugged each other in front of the courtroom before Balek was taken to the courthouse cells.