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Broken probation, teen off to jail

Only time in custody will help, says judge

Jennifer McPhee
Northern News Services


Yellowknife (Jan 31/03) - Judge Brian Bruser sentenced a 15-year-old girl to three months in jail for repeatedly breaking her parole conditions.

"You have been spiralling down a slippery slope," said Bruser in territorial youth court Monday.

"And you don't seem to know how to put on the brakes."

Last July, the teenager was convicted of break and enter, taking a vehicle without the owner's consent and failure to appear in court.

She was sentenced to nine months probation with several conditions, including a strict curfew.

Since her conviction the teenager has repeatedly ignored her curfew and failed to show up in court.

Last Friday, the teen was spotted downtown by a probation worker. He told her to go home, but she didn't.

Later that night, police took her into custody later that night.

Defence lawyer Peter Fuglsang said the girl has addiction problems, has gone through treatment and needs structure.

She recently signed a contract with her school to obey certain rules, he said.

However, Bruser pointed out that just one day after signing the contract, she broke her curfew.

The teen's mom pleaded with the judge not to send her daughter to jail.

Her behaviour has improved since treatment, said her mom, and she is on several sports teams.

"I believe there will be more changes. It's slowly sinking in, but it takes time."

"I know she's been given a lot of chances. I hope she will be given another chance to go to school and become a responsible person."

But Bruser decided only prison will change her.

"You just don't get it on your own despite all the helping hands," he told the teen and sentenced her to three months secure custody.

Only her guilty plea spared her a harsher sentence, he added.