NNSL (May 29/98) - A 23-year-old Tuktoyaktuk man convicted of a lengthy list of crimes committed in the community in March and April will spend the next three years behind bars.

Jalna Jonas Capot Blanc was convicted last week in Yellowknife of eight charges, including theft, break and enter assault and mischief. Territorial Court Judge Brian Bruser overruled lighter sentences suggested by both defence and the Crown attorneys and gave Blanc three years, due in part to how he acted in the courtroom.

Judge Bruser noted that as the facts of each crime were read out in court, Blanc seemed amused.

"His demeanor is not something that reassured me in any way that he has seen the error of his ways," he said.

Blanc has a lengthy criminal record as both an adult and a youth and faced more than 20 charges, including some from the Yukon, but 14 were dropped. Tuk RCMP characterized the crimes as a one-man crime wave as they all occurred over a period of days.

"(He) lacks respect for the law and property of others," Judge Bruser said while handing down the sentence.