A convicted thief from the Olds area pleaded guilty on March 21 in Didsbury court to one outstanding charge of theft over $5,000 in relation to a break-in in Sundre on Oct. 16.
A convicted thief from the Olds area pleaded guilty on March 21 in Didsbury court to one outstanding charge of theft over $5,000 in relation to a break-in in Sundre on Oct. 16.
Jason Furlong was sentenced to two years in prison and will serve the time concurrently with a two-year sentence he is currently serving after pleading guilty last year to five of six breaking and entering charges following thefts from Olds businesses that took place from June to October.
The Crown said the two-year sentence relating to the Oct. 16 incident was the most likely result had this charge been settled with others Furlong had faced.
On Oct. 16, Furlong broke into Strive Energy Services in Sundre, the court heard. Power box cables were stolen for the copper wire inside them.
The estimated value of the property was $20,000.
This matter was left outstanding from other charges laid against Furlong following his arrest in Sundre on Oct. 28 because while Furlong admitted to the crime, police did not lay the charge initially.
According to duty counsel, Furlong became addicted to methamphetamine, which contributed to his criminal behaviour. He had no prior record of drug use, the court heard.
Appearing in a blue jumpsuit over CCTV, Furlong said he was sorry for his actions, appreciated the court’s time to help resolve the matter and that he wanted to move on with his life.
The RCMP arrested Furlong on Oct. 28 in Sundre. He admitted to the theft and identified tools seized by police as the ones he used during the break-in.
Furlong received a six-month conditional sentence for a different set of charges resulting from that arrest. He was convicted on Dec. 2 of possessing stolen property over $5,000, breaking and entering, theft and theft over $5,000.
Two days after his conviction, Furlong was arrested again when police found he and another man broke into the B and M Home Hardware Building Centre near Highway 27 and 65 Avenue in Olds. He later pleaded guilty to two charges of breaking and entering a structure that is not a dwelling, theft under $5,000 and mischief to a property under $5,000 on Dec. 16. He was sentenced to six months in jail.
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