CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. — A P.E.I. man who was caught with $25,000 worth of stolen lobster in New Brunswick was sentenced Friday to seven months in jail on five charges.
Christopher Steven Reynolds appeared before Chief Judge Nancy Orr in provincial court by video from jail where he has been in custody since his arrest in February.
Reynolds pleaded guilty to damaging property, failing to attend court in Moncton, breaching an undertaking and two counts of possessing stolen property.
He was also charged with break and enter into a lobster storage facility in Murray Harbour North, but he has yet to enter a plea on that matter, which was adjourned until July 16.
The lawyers in the case took part in the proceedings by phone due to public health measures in place to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19 strain).
During the proceedings, Crown attorney John Diamond told the court that on June 27, 2019, the RCMP arrested Reynolds in Shediac after seeing a vehicle in a ditch.
The court heard a cube van at the scene was full of crates of live lobster and the RCMP learned they were stolen from P.E.I.
There were three other men and another truck at the scene with Reynolds.
Diamond said there were 40 crates of lobster worth $625 per crate for a total value of $25,000 in the cube van, all of which was recovered.
The lobster had been stored at LOL Seafoods in Murray Harbour North, which reported a break in. Their owner was from Nova Scotia.
Diamond said the van was at a different location for repairs when it was stolen.
The court heard Reynolds was to be paid $400 to help offload the lobster, and he never asked any questions about the trip.
Reynolds was willfully blind to the circumstances around the lobster being in the van and the trip to New Brunswick, Diamond said.
He added that the amount of money offered to Reynolds was excessive given the circumstances.
In an unrelated incident, Reynolds fled the Charlottetown police on foot when they tried to arrest him on an outstanding warrant after seeing him leaving a building they were watching.
Diamond said Reynolds broke a window and tried to get into a residence but was arrested before he could get inside.
The police took him to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital to treat injuries received from breaking the window.
In sentencing Reynolds, Orr followed a joint recommendation from the Crown and defence, and gave him 97 days of credit for time spent in custody since his arrest.
Reynold will be on probation for 18 months after his release.
