Woman sentenced after guilty plea for housebreaking and theft

By Delon Shurtz on September 9, 2021.

LETHBRIDGE HERALDdshurtz@lethbridgeherald.com

A Lethbridge woman who broke into a city home last year was released from custody Tuesday, but only because she had already served two months behind bars.
Joyce Deanne Small Legs pleaded guilty in Lethbridge provincial court to one count of housebreaking and commit theft, and was sentenced to 90 days in jail. She was released, however, for time served at one and a half days for every day she spent in remand.
Court was told a woman left her southside apartment on May 14, 2020, locked the door, then put the key in her pocket and walked to a store. She later realized the key had fallen out of her pocket and she returned home. When she arrived at her apartment, the door was unlocked and a number of items were missing.
Police found Small Legs in an apartment across the street, and she gave them several items she had stolen. During a subsequent search of the apartment, police found additional items, including the complainant’s wallet, gift cards and jewelry.
Crown Prosecutor Lisa Weich pointed out Small Legs has “lived a hard life,” but also has a significant criminal record, which includes property related offences. Weich said she normally recommends a sentence of six months for housebreaking, but after considering Small Legs’ personal circumstances and recognizing that she had returned the stolen property, Weich recommended a sentence of 90 days with time served, to which both defence and the judge agreed.

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