A 39-year-old woman caught shoplifting from four different Prince George retailers in a six-month period in 2023 received a 30-day conditional sentence in provincial court on Thursday, Jan. 23.
Amanda Blaine Ketlo pleaded guilty to three counts of theft under $5,000, failure to appear in court, breach of a release order and personation with intent to avoid arrest.
Judge Cassandra Malfair ordered Ketlo to spend the 30 days under house arrest, with allowance to leave temporarily for employment and medical care. Ketlo also faces 12 months on probation.
Crown sought a 39-day jail sentence, reduced to 21 days after factoring credit for time served. Defence proposed time served plus the 30-day conditional sentence.
Malfair said Ketlo, prior to her 2023 offences, had a criminal record of three theft convictions and three court order breaches.
“Miss Ketlo went through some tragedies, and as a result, found herself using drugs and homeless in Prince George,” Malfair said in her judgment. “Was assaulted a number of times, believes she's seen some brain damage as a result of being hit in the head during these incidents, including being hit in the head with an axe.”
Defence lawyer Liam Cooper explained that his client was involved in an “organized retail theft” in exchange for drugs to fuel her opioid addiction. She was on probation when she began the spree on May 28, 2023, caught with goods worth $504.31 at Real Canadian Superstore.
Court heard that Ketlo attended a detox centre in December, is on prescription medication to deal with her addiction and is hoping to be admitted to a residential treatment centre in Langley. She has been living recently with a partner who is sober and supportive.
Ketlo has two children that are being cared for by relatives. Their fathers each died by suicide. She has a residence at her First Nation, but it has been condemned. A new one is promised if she undergoes treatment.
“She's motivated to stay alive to try to take care of her children,” Cooper said.
Crown prosecutor Angela Murray asked the judge to send a message to Ketlo that refusal to comply with orders and incidents of repeated shoplifting, even from big retailers, is unacceptable.
“Ultimately, it does impact everybody in our society with increased cost and security required at these stores,” Murray said.
Malfair ordered Ketlo to possess no alcohol or drugs, except for prescription medication, and is banned from visiting the Real Canadian Superstore, London Drugs or Winners/Home Sense stores in Prince George.
“So, Miss Ketlo, I hope that you go to the treatment program, get your kids back in your care,” Malfair said in conclusion.
