A woman described by her defence lawyer as a “very troubled young woman at the time” will serve 12 additional days in jail after pleading guilty to multiple offences.

Appearing in a Penticton Court via video from custody on Nov. 19, Megan Anne Roberts, 33, pleaded guilty to eight of the 13 charges she faced for which she received a 360-day sentence.

Roberts pleaded guilty to one charge of assaulting a peace officer with a weapon, one count of using a stolen credit card, one count of possession of stolen property over $5,000, two counts of break and entering, one count of using a forged document, and two counts of assault.

The charges stemmed from offences including breaking into the Summerland Pharmasave and Shoppers Drug Mart to steal drugs on April 14 and using a forged prescription to try and obtain drugs from the London Drugs and Wal-Mart in Penticton back in January. As well, Roberts was charged with punching a loss prevention officer who attempted to keep her from stealing from the Wholesale Club in Penticton on Jan. 12 and assaulting an RCMP officer and threatening them with a knife while attempting to break into a parked vehicle, on March 15.

The Crown initially sought 480 days of jail time, before reducing it to 360 days, with 12 days remaining after taking into account time served while awaiting trial.

In sentencing, provincial court Judge Clarke Burnett noted that he had considered Roberts’ background, and the report he had received from a forensic psychiatrist noted Roberts had been suffering from drug-induced psychosis when the offences were committed.

The defence noted that Roberts had claimed “she had a direct channel to the Dalai Lama” and how she could not carry on normal conversations as indicative of her mental state, prior to her being looked at and provided medication.

“There is an explanation,” Burnett said. “An explanation, but not an excuse for the behaviour.”

In addition to now being on medication, Roberts’ participation in work and sobriety programs while in custody was also taken into account.

After release, she will face a five-year firearm prohibition, as well as 12 months of probation. As part of her probation, she will be required to keep all medical appointments, take all medication prescribed and attend intake counselling or a program for addiction or mental health after release.

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