Seven-month sentence following police arrest for stolen property

By Delon Shurtz on July 27, 2022.

LETHBRIDGE HERALDdshurtz@lethbridgeherald.com

A Lethbridge man who was passed out in a stolen vehicle has received a jail sentence, but he won’t have to spend any more time behind bars.

Shawn Eric Hart pleaded guilty Tuesday in Lethbridge provincial court to a charge of possession of stolen property over $5,000, and was sentenced to seven months in jail. He was given credit, however, for the equivalent of seven months he had already spent in remand custody, effectively completing his sentence.

Court was told that on March 9 of this year police were called to a business next to the homeless shelter where Hart was passed out inside a car parked nearby. Although Hart appeared to be passed out behind the steering wheel, police could hear the engine revving.

Officers boxed in the car with their vehicles so the driver could not flee, then activated their emergency lights and siren to wake him.

The car’s front tires and bumper were damaged, and it appeared the vehicle, which had been reported stolen the night before, had been driven some distance with a flat tire.

At the time of the offence Hart, 38, was on probation, which included a condition prohibiting him from being inside a vehicle of which he was not the registered owner. He pleaded guilty to one count of failing to comply with a probation order and was sentenced to 30 days in jail, to run concurrently with his seven-month sentence.

Hart, who court was told has an extensive criminal record for similar and other offences, has suffered with substance abuse problems for most of his adult life, Lethbridge lawyer Claudia Connolly explained. Connolly said she and Hart discussed treatment options, and he may be able to get into a treatment program almost immediately upon his release from custody.

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