Robert Fox will spend the next 15 months in jail after pleading guilty to six charges in Moose Jaw provincial court, including theft and pointing a handgun at people.
Fox, 43, from Bengough, appeared in court recently and pleaded guilty to possession of stolen property (a truck), possession of a stolen licence plate, possession of a weapon (baton), breach of probation, pointing a firearm (handgun) at people, and driving while prohibited.
The Crown and defence proposed a joint sentence that included 15 months of jail. However, Fox was given credit for time on remand, which means he will spend 9.5 months behind bars. He will serve this time concurrently with the 10 months of jail he received after pleading guilty recently to charges from Rosetown.
Judge Brian Hendrickson accepted the joint submission.
“It is a fit sentence in these circumstances,” he said.
Fox’s most recent crime was on May 18 in Bengough, where he pointed a handgun at two people outside his home, explained Crown prosecutor Stephen Yusuff. The couple had driven around Fox’s residence several times, which he noticed and went outside to confront them.
“The (driver) said, ‘We don’t need thieves in our town. Leave our town,’” Yusuff said while reading the facts. The couple then left the scene, but not before Fox pulled a handgun from his pants, cocked the weapon, and pointed it at the people.
Fox and another person were in Ogema a month earlier when a resident from that community became suspicious and chased after them. The resident detained the two suspects, allowing the RCMP to arrest them, the Crown prosecutor continued. Police discovered that the truck was stolen, while they also seized a Winchester air pistol.
Fox was on release conditions then to not possess weapons.
A witness saw Fox in the Bengough area on April 24 standing near a grey Ford truck, the one he later stole. The witness saw a co-accused walk away from a Quonset hut while carrying a heavy black bag and jumping into the truck.
Neither Fox nor his co-accused had permission to be there, to enter the hut, or be at that residence, said Yusuff. Police later talked to the property owner, who said that while the two crooks broke into his Quonset hut, he was unsure what they stole — a jug, maybe — and didn’t think the items had much value.
Yusuff added that Fox has a criminal record that includes multiple offences for property theft.
Fox is a 43-year-old man and realizes he needs to move forward and leave the criminal life, his defence lawyer said. He has worked in the trades for 10 years and is willing to “turn over a new leaf” to make a new life for himself.
“After jail, he will be employed and will be a good citizen,” the defence lawyer added.
The defence lawyer asked Judge Hendrickson to waive the victim surcharge since Fox could not pay it; the judge agreed.
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