Judge issues warning sentencing man with ‘atrocious’ criminal record
By Delon Shurtz - Lethbridge Herald on February 24, 2023.
LETHBRIDGE HERALDdshurtz@lethbridgeherald.com A Lethbridge man with an “atrocious” criminal record that includes convictions for stealing motor vehicles, has been sent to jail for repeating the crimes.Logan Conrad Drake, 31, was driving a 2017 Mazda 6 stolen in Calgary when he was caught on video surveillance last year driving the vehicle into a Lethbridge parking lot. He stopped, stepped out of the vehicle, then jumped into another one before driving away.
At the time Drake was under a driving prohibition, and when he was subsequently arrested, he was also caught with other additional stolen property, including drills and other people’s personal documents, including identification cards and bills.
“It looked like it had come from some car shopping,” Crown Prosecutor Clayton Giles said Thursday in Lethbridge provincial court, where Drake pleaded guilty to charges of possession of stolen property over $5,000, driving while prohibited, possession of stolen property under $5,000, and theft of a motor vehicle.
Drake also pleaded guilty to one count of using someone else’s credit card, stemming from an incident on Sept. 7, 2022.
A resident had his wallet stolen from his vehicle while it was parked – unlocked – at his place of employment in Claresholm. Because the wallet contained a credit card, the owner called his bank to cancel it, and was told the card had just been used at a convenience store in the amount of $100. Drake was identified through video surveillance and arrested.
Drake was sentenced to a total of nine months in custody for all the charges, but given credit for nearly seven-and-a-half months he spent in remand custody, leaving 47 days to serve.
Giles referred to Drake’s criminal record, and pointed out he had, in May of 2019, been sentenced to four years in prison on two counts of dangerous driving causing bodily harm, three counts of possession of stolen property over $5,000, five counts of commercial break-in and two counts of vehicle theft.
Calgary lawyer Robin McIntyre, who jointly recommended the nine-month sentence, said her client struggles with addictions but while in custody has been taking Sublocade, which is used to treat opioid addiction.
“He feels very optimistic about its ability to help him,” McIntyre said.
Drake apologized for his actions and promised to “do the right things from now on,” to which Judge Erin Olsen responded with a warning.
“The pattern you’ve established will make it very easy for very significant jail sentences to be imposed in the future,” Olsen said.
“It will also make it really difficult for you to secure your release from custody if you’re arrested again. And so you’re at a point where you can choose where you want to spend your time, while being chased by police or in jail, or trying to get better.” Follow @DShurtzHerald on Twitter 4
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