Addressing his drug addiction will likely be one of the first things Chad William Gienow does when he leaves jail in six months, a result of his habit and related criminal activity.
Gienow, 37, appeared by video in Moose Jaw provincial court recently and pleaded guilty to mischief over $5,000, breaching probation (three), possessing ammunition while prohibited, stealing a vehicle and possessing an illegal substance.
The Crown stayed several other charges.
As part of a joint submission, Judge Brian Hendrickson sentenced Gienow to six months — or 180 days — in jail for the mischief charge, another six months concurrent — at the same time — for the vehicle theft, and 30 days concurrent for the other charges.
However, since he spent 32 days in custody, he was given credit for 48 days, which means he will serve 132 days in jail, or about four and a half months.
Police visited the 1100 block of Caribou Street East at 2:45 a.m. on Jan. 31 after receiving a report about a suspicious grey SUV parked near a business called Tinker’s Welding, Crown prosecutor Rob Parker said while reading the facts. This area has recently been the subject of break-ins and thefts of catalytic converters.
The SUV was parked at home in the trailer court, with a woman sleeping in the front passenger seat, he continued. While speaking with her, police noticed that the trailer’s side door was damaged. A few minutes later, another woman came out and told police they were there to pick up items for a friend.
Police went inside and found Gienow, who told officers he had permission to be there but not on that particular day. Police arrested him and charged him with mischief and interfering with the lawful enjoyment of a property.
Officers searched Gienow and found two shotgun rounds in his pocket, objects he was prohibited from possessing for life, said Parker.
Police also found 5.9 grams of methamphetamine on Gienow and charged him with possessing an illegal substance. This was his seventh such charge since 2003.
Two weeks earlier, on Jan. 16 at 4:50 a.m., police received a call about stolen vehicles from Lister’s Livestock parking lot on Britannia Road, including a 1996 white Chevy half-ton, the Crown prosecutor continued.
Earlier that morning at 1:40 a.m., a friend gave Gienow a ride to the livestock venue, where he stole the truck and drove it to an apartment building on Ominica Street West.
Police later located the vehicle just after 7 a.m.
“My client struggles with addiction to drugs,” Legal Aid lawyer Suzanne Jeanson said.
Gienow is an experienced tradesman and hopes to find a job in his field when he is released, she continued. He has struggled with addictions for years but recently attempted to attain a bed at an inpatient treatment centre. Once released, he will attempt to jump back on the treatment centre’s waitlist.
“He understands that he needs to address his addiction and that that’s going to be a foundation probably for everything in his life … ,” Jeanson added. “So, he has some things to work on when released, but he seems to recognize properly what those priorities are.”
After listening to both legal counsels, Judge Hendrickson accepted the joint submission and agreed to waive the victim surcharge penalty.
