Self-described junkie faces two more weeks in jail

PENTICTON – A woman whose addiction led her to theft — and to eventually threaten two Penticton grocery store employees with a syringe — will spend another two weeks in jail.

Kristi-Jo Wilson, 41, pleaded guilty to a pair assault charges, a charge of theft under $5,000, a charge of possession of stolen property under $5000 and two parole violations in Penticton court today, Feb. 29.

Judge Meg Shaw sentenced Wilson to 61 days in jail and with time she has already served, means another two weeks behind bars.

Crown prosecutor Catherine Crockett told court Wilson’s trouble with the law began with a May 25, 2015 theft of a Sony stereo and two air conditioning pumps from a Ford Taurus parked on a residential street in Penticton. The Sony stereo was located in a pawn shop later that day. The clerk was able to identify Wilson as the person who pawned it.

On Oct. 24, 2015, the loss prevention officer at Real Canadian Superstore in Penticton reported a theft in progress and police arrived to find the loss prevention officer in pursuit of Wilson, who was apprehended and arrested after officers found a set of Bluetooth headphones and a pair of gloves from the store on her person.

Wilson was reported by her parole officer on Oct. 24, 2015 for failing to report on that occasion, and again on Jan. 23, 2016.

On Jan. 30, police were called to Save-On-Foods in Penticton after the loss prevention officer and the assistant manager attempted to prevent Wilson from leaving the store with shoplifted goods valued at $69. Wilson resisted the attempt to stop her, kicking the assistant manager and threatening to stab the loss prevention officer with a syringe. Wilson told the two she had shoplifted because she was a junkie and didn’t want to be detained by police because she was wanted on a warrant.

Crockett argued for a sentence of 68 days in jail and one year probation, noting the serious nature of Wilson’s last offence at Save-On-Foods. She said Wilson’s motivation for her crimes appeared to be based on Wilson’ own admission of being a junkie.

Defence lawyer Robert Maxwell told court his client’s use of drugs has taken her to a physical appearance well beyond her real age. He said Wilson had been addicted to opiates since she was 12, in addition to suffering from spinal bifida.

Wilson had been receiving prescription medication from walk-in clinics for three years and had recently had to resort to theft to feed her addiction, Maxwell said. He noted his client had gotten the drugs out of her system while in jail and was clean now. She also had a plan for rehabilitation upon her release from prison.

Maxwell asked Judge Shaw for a sentence of time served and probation.

Judge Shaw noted Wilson’s relatively clean record and the fact she had a discharge plan, sentencing her to a total of 61 days. Wilson also faces a year of probation and a no-go order for Real Canadian Superstore and Save-On-Foods. She also waived the considerable amount Wilson owed in victim surcharge fees.

To contact the reporter for this story, email Steve Arstad at sarstad@infonews.ca or call 250-488-3065. To contact the editor, email mjones@infonews.ca or call 250-718-2724.