Dawn Ostrem
Northern News Services

Lac La Martre (Sep 24/01) - A long-time offender recently received 13 months in jail for a string of break and enter offences.

Steven Morgan Nitsiza's defence attempted to appeal to the court using 1999 precedent-setting case law that allows the court to take certain systemic issues for aboriginal people into consideration.

The defence said Nitsiza starting drinking at age 12 and the only real role model he had taught him crime was "cool." The defence was looking for a sentence of less than 13 months.

"Prison for you has become a home away from home," said territorial court Judge Brian Bruser, referring to at least 18 previous offences. "There has to be a lengthy sentence to keep you in that home and out of the homes of other people."

Nitsiza, a resident of Wha Ti, broke into the home of the RCMP member there, the health centre, the school, the community store, the band office and a residence in Yellowknife.

He was caught breaking into the Wha Ti store again in September when he provided a full confession. He took a variety of items from many of the places he got into, close to $3,000 in total.

"This offender continues to be a real menace to the public," Bruser said.