CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. — A Charlottetown man who stole a TV, cheese and frozen peas was recently given time served on three charges.
Jonathan Thomas Viau, 34, appeared before Judge John Douglas in provincial court in Charlottetown where he was sentenced for breaching an undertaking and two counts of theft.
Crown attorney John Diamond told the court that on Feb. 12, Viau went to a Superstore where he stole cottage cheese, cheddar cheese and frozen peas.
On July 10, Viau went to the Superstore with another person where they stole a 65-inch TV.
Defence lawyer Alex Dalton told the court Viau had a workplace injury when he was 19 that caused him pain and led to addiction issues.
The food theft was out of desperation and taking the TV was to feed Viau’s addiction, Dalton said.
Viau told the court he suffers chronic pain from a broken back and has been medicating himself on the street for 12 years.
He doesn’t want to do that anymore, Viau said.
Douglas sentenced Viau to one day in jail on each offence, leaving him nothing left to serve after credit for time already spent in custody.
Viau will be on probation for 15 months and must pay $477.42 in restitution.
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