Tara Kearsey
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Nov 04/02) - Heartbreaking sobs echoed throughout territorial court room Oct. 28 as a 12-year-old boy was torn from his father's arms and sent off to a group home for eight months.

The boy pleaded guilty to four charges under the Young Offenders Act. He was convicted of breaking and entering into the Tulita post office, violating a court-ordered curfew, not obeying a previous probation order and possession of stolen property.

The boy began wailing uncontrollably when Crown counsel Noel Sinclair sanctioned his "chronic illegal behaviour" and scolded him for "not keeping his nose clean."

"He's out of control," said Sinclair, arguing the violation at the Tulita post office was particularly aggravating, given it was an invasion of privacy.

All institutions such as post offices, he stressed, house private and confidential correspondence that should be protected from common criminals.

"He has attacked people's private property," said Sinclair.

Although he is only 12 years old, the boy already has a string of convictions on his record.

In July he was convicted of break and enter with intent to commit theft at the Bentley store in Yellowknife. He was sentenced to three months of probation and 30 hours community service work.

Then in August, he was sentenced to one year of probation and restitution for a break, enter and theft at the Yellowknife Elks Club. He also has two other break and enter convictions on his record.

"I'm really puzzled ... I don't know what's driving him to do these things," said the boy's father, speaking of his troubled son's behaviour.

He has tried to give his son everything. He's the only kid in Tulita with a snow machine or a brand new hockey bag."

The father said all he has ever wanted was for his son "to be a useful person in society," and is baffled as to what went wrong.

He informed the court that the young offender has been having difficulties adjusting in school and believes the boy became involved with other delinquent children because they accept him.

"Life is about choices. You have made some bad ones," said Judge Brian Bruser to the weeping child before sentencing.

"Nobody here is saying that you are a bad person, but what you have been doing has been bad," said the Judge.

Bruser ordered a psychiatric evaluation to determine if the boy has any emotional or psychological troubles.