A man who admitted to stealing more than $1,200 worth of goods from two Nelson businesses has been sentenced to six months in jail.
Paddy Gene Doherty, 41, pled guilty Tuesday to theft, two counts of possession of stolen property, and breaching a probation order.
Court heard that on June 24, Walmart security called police after spotting a couple leaving the store with a shopping cart full of about $750 worth of merchandise they hadn’t paid for.
Doherty’s co-accused, Renee Caron, stopped but Doherty ran to his truck and took off.
Police located Doherty nearby along with the vehicle, still full of stolen property. It was discovered the pair had been in Walmart earlier that day and taken out another full cart of merchandise worth about $480.
In addition, police located a stolen electric drill and other tools swiped from Kootenay Industrial Supply. All the stolen property was returned, except some perishable food times.
In addition to admitting to those crimes, Doherty acknowledged stealing from the government liquor store on May 16. Video surveillance showed Doherty handling bottles of vodka to Caron, who placed them in her purse. The four bottles had a combined value of about $200.
Doherty was also in breach of a probation order by being in a business with Caron. He was sentenced in June 2013 to jail time plus a year’s probation for a theft in Cranbrook.
He has been in custody since his arrest, serving out a previous conditional sentence order.
Crown prosecutor Sunday Patola called the crimes “blatant thefts” and noted Doherty has a “very bad history of property offenses” for which he has served “significant” jail time. She asked for a sentence of four to six months.
Defence lawyer Blair Suffredine argued Doherty was more of an accomplice than the main perpetrator but Judge Ron Fabbro disagreed: “It sounds like a joint venture,” he said, and gave Doherty six months to be served concurrently with his previous sentence.
Doherty was due for release November 5, but Suffredine indicated he would now spend about another month in jail.
Asked if he had anything to say, Doherty, who appeared by video link from jail in Kamloops, replied: “I’m sorry this happened. I feel ashamed. I have a good business on the outside and don’t want this to affect it.”
Caron was previously sentenced to 15 days in jail on the same matter and placed on probation for two years.
