CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. — A P.E.I. man who defrauded his grandmother by electronically transferring money out of her bank account was sentenced recently to 180 days in jail on seven charges.
Anthony Michael Gauthier, 26, appeared before Judge Jeff Lantz in provincial court in Charlottetown by video from jail where he pleaded guilty to breaching an undertaking, failing to attend court, two counts of theft and three counts of breaching his probation.
Reading from an agreed statement of facts, Crown attorney Gerald Quinn told the court Gauthier was on probation when he used his grandmother’s phone to transfer $40 without her knowledge or approval.
In a separate incident, the court heard Gauthier stole three bottles of alcohol from a liquor store and was caught on surveillance video hiding them in his clothing.
Quinn told the court Gauthier owed more than $20,000 in restitution, fines and surcharges and had a 28-page criminal record.
Although Gauthier initially told the court he had nothing to say, he later responded to questions from Lantz and said he was in a slump where he was using drugs continuously.
Gauthier said he was stealing alcohol to sell so he could buy drugs.
Along with the jail time, which was reduced by 140 days after credit for time served, Lantz gave Gauthier 18 months of probation.
Gauthier must also pay $125.77 in restitution.
