While sentencing Christopher Tracey to six months in jail for his latest crimes, Justice Mark Poland said one word came to mind when he looked at his 13-page criminal record.
Article content
“Wow,” the Sarnia judge said. “His criminal record is just absolutely appalling.”
Tracey’s record now includes theft under $5,000, mischief of less than $5,000, and breaching probation following his latest set of guilty pleas. The court heard Tracey, 40, went into the Lambton College library last December, grabbed a student’s laptop, stuffed it into a grocery bag and walked out. The laptop was never recovered.
Poland said the student probably had important information saved on there.
“By stealing that laptop from her, you probably set that poor young woman back in a significant way,” he said.
In February, Tracey ransacked a car at Coop’s Automotive on Confederation Street, throwing things about and damaging the interior.
Article content
“You’re in this car that doesn’t belong to you and you’re causing a mess, causing damage. It’s ridiculous,” Poland said.
Tracey was arrested at the Confederation Street McDonald’s, violating a probation ban on being there.
“The community’s got a problem here and the problem is you,” Poland said.
Tracey previously served eight months in jail in 2013 for crashing an SUV while on drugs and again in 2014 for a Christmas Eve break-in. He got a suspended sentence in 2022 for interfering with 911 emergency system.
Defense lawyer Terry Brandon said her client has wellness issues, including mental-health diagnoses and addictions to alcohol and opioids, and is homeless. She said she and the Crown initially looked at getting an assessment of his criminal responsibility, but later decided it would be appropriate.
Instead, they suggested six months in jail for these three convictions, a sentence Poland said was appropriate.
Tracey said he was sorry and talked about going to treatment.
The judge ordered him to pay $1,500 to the student for his laptop and $250 to the auto shop.
Tracey still faces charges in Sarnia and London, records show. He appeared in Sarnia court Thursday by video link from the city’s jail and will be back in court Oct. 24.
Share this article in your social network