A Sarnia woman reported missing by police earlier this year has been sentenced to almost a year in jail for a series of bizarre crimes that scared several people.
A Sarnia woman reported missing by police earlier this year has been sentenced to almost a year in jail for a series of bizarre crimes that scared several people.
Advertisement 2
Article content
Article content
Recommended Videos
Article content
“Her behavior was no doubt frightening for those who encountered her on those days,” assistant Crown attorney Nicole Godfrey said.
The court heard Alannah Desrochers’ odd behavior was tied to mental health issues, but was also fueled by various street drugs, including fentanyl.
“This was bizarre, bizarre behavior, to say the least,” Justice Paul Kowalyshyn recently said before imposing the 300-day jail sentence the prosecutor and her lawyer both suggested.
The judge acknowledged there were mental health issues involved in her behavior.
“But your actions were dangerous, not only to yourself, but all others involved,” he said.
The court heard Desrochers, 33, went into the We Store cannabis shop on Confederation Street after striking a curb with her car and caused a disturbance by knocking over a display. After being removed from the store, she tried to steal a blue Mazda idling in the parking lot, but a passenger in the car forced her out. The driver came back and, despite being kicked and slapped by Desrochers, managed to get in the car and pull away.
Advertisement 3
Article content
Then, she got in a yellow Dodge Charger, started it and tried to drive off, but the owner stopped her. Police were called and she was arrested by Const. Rich Scott. Desrochers spit on the officer while she was being put in his cruiser.
She was released the next day around noon and immediately reoffended. She got on a Sarnia Transit bus and tried to steal the driver’s lunch and water bottle. She also tried to get past the driver’s plastic enclosure before the bus was pulled over and she was removed and police were called.
Sarnia police announced on April 7 Desrochers was missing and asked the public to help find her.
About two weeks later, she walked into a stranger’s home on Emma Street and refused to leave. Following a 15-minute verbal altercation with a woman living there, she was locked out with the help of a Canada Post mail carrier who happened to be delivered to the house at the time.
Advertisement 4
Article content
But three days later, the couple saw her banging on their door on video surveillance and quickly returned home amid fears she would break in while their teenage children were home alone.
“That must have been terrifying for them,” Godfrey said.
Desrochers recently pleaded guilty to several charges covering all these incidents including assault, assaulting police, criminal harassment, two counts of mischief, two counts of attempting to steal, and entering a home with intent. Up until then, she had no prior criminal record.
Several documents, including a fitness assessment and a forensic psychiatrist report, were filed in court detailing her history of mental illness and drug use. Defense lawyer Robert McFadden said he was concerned earlier this year as street drugs and her mental health drugs don’t mix, but he was encouraged by how she appeared after staying sober while in jail.
Advertisement 5
Article content
“This is the clearest I’ve seen her in almost a year,” he said.
Kowalyshyn said after reading the reports and seeing how she appeared in court he was pleasantly surprised.
“You’re presenting as coherent, cogent. You look healthy,” he said.
Desrochers told the judge she regrets what happened and feels awful, but she’s sober now. She called what happened during the last year or so a bump on the road.
“This is a little bit more than a bump. This is more than pothole,” Kowalyshyn responded. “This is the road caving in, but you’ve been given a second chance, so good luck in that regard.”
After being released Desrochers will be on probation, which bans her from drinking, taking cannabis or illegal drugs, hanging out with people who do drugs, and going to the places and talking to the people tied to her convictions.
Article content