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Man sentenced for computer theft

Andrew Raven
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Sep 10/04) - A Yellowknife man who stole several computers from an elementary school will not go to jail after pleading guilty to theft in territorial court, Tuesday.

Steve Sharman, 20, broke into Mildred Hall elementary school on three occasions in early July and made away with six computers -- including one belonging to the principal.

"The accused is certainly persistent. (The theft) was certainly planned. It certainly was stupid," said Chief Judge Michel Bourassa, who handed down a conditional discharge.

The sentence means if Sharman stays out of trouble for the next year, he will not have a criminal record.

Crown attorney Loretta Colton told the court a construction worker saw Sharman fiddling with a computer in the principal's office. After the construction worker said hello, a startled Sharman left the school empty-handed, said Colton.

Despite being seen, Sharman returned to the school later that night and stole the computer, along with one in the vice-principal's office.

When Sharman heard he was the suspect in the case, he went to the RCMP detachment to tell officers he was not involved in the theft.

But after being questioned by investigators, Sharman -- who had no previous criminal record -- eventually broke down and admitted to stealing the computers.

While Sharman admitted to stealing six computers, Mildred Hall principal Yasemin Heyck said a total of 15 were taken from the school. Colton said she was not aware if anyone else had been charged in connection with the break and enters. Nine of the computers are still missing and will need to be replaced, Heyck said.

Heyck said the computers were returned to the school, but they were severely damaged. They had been stashed in the bushes behind the school and Sharman threw them in a dumpster when he heard the police were investigating the thefts.

The crime was highly uncharacteristic for Sharman and motivated by his need for cash, said his lawyer, James Brydon.

"It was very dumb," said Brydon. "He was clearly going to get caught."

Brydon said Sharman was struggling to find a job, a plight Bourassa did not have a great deal of sympathy for.

"Yellowknife is booming," he said to Sharman. "For gosh sakes, you've got a brain. Use it."