Yellowknife (Oct 15/04) - A Yellowknife man with nearly 40 convictions on his record was sentenced to 26 months in prison Tuesday in connection with two September break-ins.

Joelie Ussak Kustiq admitted to forcing his way into the Yellowknife Pentecostal Tabernacle Sept. 28 and the Northern Images Art Gallery the following day.

Territorial Court Chief Judge Michel Bourassa sentenced Kustiq to 18 months in custody for the two break-ins.

Kustiq was also convicted of escaping lawful custody after he tried to run away from police outside the Yellowknife Courthouse on Oct. 1. A shackled Kustiq was caught before he could make it out of the courthouse parking lot, Crown Attorney Darren Mahoney said. Bourassa sentenced Kustiq to four additional months for the escape attempt.

The 40-year-old Kustiq also admitted to a breach of probation, bringing his total sentence to 26 months.