A Sarnia man with a long criminal record who has been jailed more than a year in the past just spent another two months behind bars for theft.
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Dana Owens, 42, was caught stealing about $200 in makeup and other accessories from the Exmouth Street Shoppers Drug Mart in June. Justice Paul Kowalyshyn told Owens theft from big-box stores may not be taken seriously by some, but it affects everyone as it leads to higher prices.
“It’s called Shoppers for a reason. It’s not called stealers,” the judge said last week during Owens’ sentencing hearing.
Kowalyshyn also turned his attention to Owens’ criminal record, which includes 11 prior convictions for theft among many others.
“My math is bad, but I run out of fingers and toes to look at your prior convictions,” he said.
Owens was sentenced in 2013 to 14 months in jail for stealing a vehicle, drug possession, break and enter, and multiple probation-order violations. He got another 76 days in 2015 for assault with a weapon for pepper-spraying a man outside of a convenience store.
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Then he was handed over 150 days in 2017 for possessing drugs, stolen property and break-in tools. He was hoping for a shorter, time-served sentence at the time, but the judge there said his lengthy prior record meant that was off the table.
In his latest case, Kowalyshyn told Owens he was lucky both lawyers suggested the same 47-day sentence.
“You’re very fortunate the matter’s being resolved in this fashion,” he said.
Defense lawyer Terry Brandon said her client, who has schizophrenia and deals with homelessness, wanted to go to detox after sobering up in jail. She added he had a good attitude about this and made a New Year’s resolution about it after spending the countdown in jail.
“Good luck to you, sir. New Year. Newleaf. You’ve got plenty in the rear-view mirror, you don’t need any more convictions,” Kowalyshyn said.
Owens is banned from the Exmouth Street drug store while on probation for the next two years. Before he left the courtroom, Owens asked the judge if he could go to the other Sarnia Shoppers Drug Mart location.
“You don’t want to be going in the other one unless you’re equipped with cash or plastic,” he cautioned.
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