Court Briefs
Fraudster told to pay up already
Daniel Campbell
Northern News Services
Published Friday, March 7, 2014
SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
A man who owes more than $10,000 in court fines and restitution payments to a company he defrauded in 2009 was admonished in court on Tuesday for failing to make even a single payment towards his debt.
Ronald Ted Lacroix, 43, was supposed to make monthly payments of $200 to Corothers Home Building Centre, which Lacroix defrauded to the tune of $6,793 in 2009.
Lacroix also owes the courts $4,100 in unpaid fines, according to court records. He has two $1,700 fines for driving without insurance, a $250 fine for
possession of stolen property, a $150 fine for failing to attend court, a $100 fine for improper use of licence plates and a $200 fine for driving a vehicle with suspended registration.
He was sentenced to three-years probation in September for failing to pay the fines and restitution to Corothers. On Tuesday, the Judge Bernadette Schmaltz learned Lacroix hadn't paid a cent.
"There has to be a point where Mr. Lacroix is held responsible," Schmaltz said.
Lacroix told the court he hasn't paid because of financial difficulties.
But Schmaltz said she'd already heard Lacroix's excuses in September.
"Mr. Lacroix, you're going to run out of stories soon," she told him.
Schmaltz said he'd have to start making payments soon.
Schmaltz adjourned the matter until April 15, when Lacroix's repayment progress will be assessed again.
Fine for disobeying court order
A man arrested after a cab driver hit his emergency button on Jan. 16, alerting RCMP to his location, has been fined $300 for drinking after the court ordered him not to.
According to a statement of facts read in territorial court on Tuesday, the 36 year old was so intoxicated his cab driver had to alert RCMP to remove him from the vehicle.
The man was under court order to not consume alcohol as he awaited his trial
for an assault charge from August. On Jan. 27 that assault charge was stayed by the Crown.
Schmaltz said the court's order still applied, even though the charge was stayed two weeks later.
An additional $90 was added to the man's fine - part of the now mandatory victim of crime surcharge, which adds 30 per cent to any fine. Judge Bernadette Schmaltz gave him three months to pay both fines.
Fine for liquor store theft
A Yellowknife man was fined $350 for stealing a bottle of liquor from the downtown liquor store, then returning the next day to steal again and being caught.
Matthew Nitsiza, 38, appeared in territorial court on Tuesday. According to a statement of facts read to the court, Nitsiza walked into the downtown liquor store on Dec. 27, shoved a bottle of vodka down his pants and left without paying.
The crime was caught on the store's security camera. The next day, Nitsiza returned to the store and attempted to put another bottle down his pants. The store owner recognized the man from the previous day's security footage and stopped him.
Nitsiza, who has several convictions on his record, including a theft in 2009, apologized to the court on Tuesday, saying he hopes to get back on his feet and get a job.
Judge Bernadette Schmaltz scolded the man, pointing out the store owner's loss.
"Why should he pay to support you?" she asked Nitsiza.
The now mandatory victim of crime surcharge, equalling 30 per cent of Nitsiza's fine ($105), was added to Nitsiza's total. Schmaltz gave him three months to pay off both.
