“You did something you shouldn’t have done,” judge says to front end loader thief

By Nigel Maxwell

A Prince Albert judge has instructed a 13-year-old boy not to play so many video games.

The teen, who stole a front end loader from a fenced-in compound last June and crashed it into the retaining wall at Conexus Credit Union, has received a conditional discharge, meaning he will not have a criminal record as long as he abides by a number of conditions.

The sentencing hearing was held Wednesday morning at Prince Albert Provincial Court.

According to the statement of facts read in court by Crown Prosecutor Cam Scott, the youth gained entry into the shop through the backdoor after climbing over a locked SaskEnergy fence. The youth then entered the vehicle and drove it through a retaining wall.

The “wide-eyed youth” emerged from the vehicle and told police he had been moving it for his dad. The boy’s father lives in Lloydminster.

“I don’t know what he was thinking, quite frankly,” Scott said.

Scott told the judge the boy had been around machinery from a young age working with his dad and had a strong mechanical inclination. Scott, who recommended a probation order, also explained that the boy had a number of cognitive issues and had suffered dramatic family breakdown.

Legal Aid lawyer Pam Cuelenaere stressed the boy had taken responsibility for his actions and had indicated to her he had wished to make amends to the owner. Cuelenaere also cited the teen had a strong work ethic and had been very co-operative with authorities.

Judge Hugh Harradence said he was impressed by the pre-sentence report, but added there was still a need for consequences.

“You did something you shouldn’t have done,” he said to the boy.

In addition to reporting to a probation worker and seeing a counsellor, the teen was also ordered to write a letter of apology to the owner of the front end loader and will work to pay back the $1,000 deductible that was paid for damages to the loader.

Harradence encouraged the boy to finish high school, and advised him to find some other more constructive hobbies.

“I know you like playing video games but you’re getting bad ideas from video games,” he said.