Six months for Manitoban’s part in possessing stolen property

By Peggy Revell on July 20, 2017.

The last of three Manitobans arrested in early June in Medicine Hat in relation to stolen property was sentenced Wednesday to a six-month jail term.

Steven James Fontaine, 34, pled guilty to one count of possessing stolen property, one count of theft under $5,000, and one count of obstructing police —charges that stem from his June 6 arrest alongside fellow Winnipeggers, Elizabeth Racette and Desmond Houle.

Police attention was drawn to the three after Fontaine and Houle stole $30 in items from a convenience store on June 5, and the clerk was able to share both the vehicle description and licence plate with police.

Police located the vehicle parked outside a residence the next day, and found the plate had been stolen in Winnipeg, and the vehicle reported stolen from a robbery/carjacking.

Houle came out of the residence and was arrested. Fontaine and Racette were seen by police climbing out the back window. Racette was caught after a short chase, while the Canine Unit was used to track down Fontaine, who was found hiding in bushes by the South Saskatchewan River.

At the time, Racette told police she and Fontaine had traded meth and cash for the vehicle, and they had travelled to Medicine Hat to hopefully attend a drug treatment program.

Houle pled guilty to shoplifting charges soon after his arrest, while Racette pled out on July 12 and was sentenced to four months in jail.

Time served in custody prior to Fontaine’s plea means that 65 days of credit have been applied to his sentence.