ESTEVAN – A man has pleaded guilty and been sentenced to time served for a number of thefts that occurred earlier this month.
Orrie David Connor Flatfoot, age 22, pleaded guilty to three counts of theft under $5,000, and one count each of breaching a curfew and breaching a probation order, during a video appearance in Estevan Provincial Court on April 21.
Charges of violating a probation order and breaching a curfew were stayed.
Crown prosecutor Travis Avery noted that Flatfoot has prior a criminal record and had been placed on probation for 15 months on April 3 after pleading guilty for thefts, mischief and other infractions that occurred in Estevan. After Flatfoot was released on April 3, Avery said the man went into a building and stole a hockey jersey. Avery added Flatfoot appeared to entered a washroom, hid the jersey under his shirt and left the building; his actions were captured on video.
"He was later asked about it, and acknowledged having taken the jersey, but it has not been recovered," said Avery.
Then on April 8, police were notified of a stolen bottle of liquor from a local store. According to Avery, Flatfoot was located in the area, and was seen wearing clothing consistent with the liquor store staff members' description. When police located him, Avery said Flatfoot fled and tossed an item. He was soon arrested and the bottle was located.
When he was taken into custody, Avery said two cellular phones were located on Flatfoot, one of which belonged to another person. Approximately 30 minutes after Flatfoot was arrested, Avery said a woman came to the police station to report her phone was stolen.
"She provided a description of the phone, and the police officer on the shift noted it was consistent with one of the two phones that had just been seized from Mr. Flatfoot. She was able to key in her password and it turns out that phone belonged to her," said Avery.
The phone, which had been stolen earlier in the day, was returned to the woman.
Prior to entering his plea on April 21, Flatfoot had been in custody since April 8. He was incarcerated for 14 days, was credited with 21 days through enhanced credit and released from custody.
The 15-month probation order from his previous arrest continues.
Defence attorney Aleida Oberholzer said the joint submission for the sentence was within the range for Flatfoot's offences. She noted that Flatfoot, who is a member of the Pine Creek First Nations in Manitoba, and he has experienced considerable adversity, shaped by personal and intergenerational trauma. He was in foster care from a young age, and he suffered physical abuse.
Oberholzer noted Flatfoot has demonstrated a desire to move forward in a positive direction. He has completed his Grade 10 education, and wants to attend trade school, breaking the cycle of trauma.
Flatfoot apologized for his crimes, vowed they wouldn't happen again, and said he learned his lessons from his time in jail.