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SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - A man was ordered last Friday to repay the money he stole from a cheque-cashing store where he cashed fake cheques.

Michael Dunn, 37, pleaded guilty Jan. 9 to two fraud charges relating to bogus cheques he cashed at the Yellowknife Cashplan store on Feb. 21 and Feb. 23, 2005, totalling $6,560.72. He also pleaded guilty to failing to appear in court and failing to report to court.

In territorial court, Judge Bernadette Schmaltz sentenced Dunn to repay $6,560 to Ditab Enterprises - the parent company of Cashplan - and to 15 months probation.

Nearly four years ago, Dunn cashed cheques - signed and provided to him by a "co-conspirator" - on two separate occasions from an inactive account with the name "Superior Maintenance and Cleaning."

On Feb. 21, 2005, he cashed a cheque worth $3,085.72. Two days later, he cashed one for $3,475.00.

Stephen Shabala, Dunn's lawyer, said his client was "heavily addicted" to cocaine at the time.

"There are two Michael Dunns," said Shabala. "There's the Michael Dunn who doesn't take drugs and there's the Michael Dunn who does."

Dunn was arrested and charged with seven counts of fraud. He failed to appear in court and was arrested Apr. 19, 2005. He then failed to report to court again and a warrant was issued for his arrest May 8, 2005.

Dunn was arrested in downtown Yellowknife on Oct. 8, 2008, and has been in police custody ever since.

Both the Crown and defence said the fraud charges would have been challenging to prove without Dunn's admission of guilt, considering it had been nearly four years since the charges were filed.

Before sentencing, Dunn rose and apologized for his actions.

"I fully accept my actions," he said. "I am very sorry for my family. I'm continuing to work on myself as a person."

Schmaltz said she gave Dunn credit for admitting guilt and dealing with his problems after he "ran away from them."

She said Dunn seemed to be working to control his addiction, referencing addictions programs he'd been involved with at the North Slave Correctional Centre.

Schmaltz said the crime "shows the devastation cocaine causes in the community."

Dunn's brother and stepfather were in the courtroom during sentencing and Schmaltz acknowledged them.

"There's a lot of people out there to help you," she told Dunn. "Don't let them down."

Dunn was also sentenced to 70 hours of community service. He was prohibited from contacting known drug dealers and from possessing or consuming alcohol or illicit drugs.