Hay River (Dec 13/04) - A Fort Smith man has been sent to jail for a drug-related crime spree.

William John DeBoer, 20, was sentenced to 18 months imprisonment for three break and enters at Fort Smith businesses.

DeBoer pleaded guilty to the charges, along with breach of an undertaking and breach of probation, when he appeared in Hay River territorial court on Dec. 6.

Crown prosecutor Steven Hinkley told the court DeBoer committed the break-ins to obtain money for a crack cocaine addiction.

"This is clearly a drug-fuelled problem," Hinkley said.

The first break-in occurred at Midnight Petroleum in Fort Smith on Sept. 30. After entering through a window, DeBoer unsuccessfully attempted to drill into a safe, but managed to pry it open with a screwdriver. The break-in netted $912.

On Oct. 8, he broke into an NWT Power Corporation building and stole computer equipment. On the same night, he entered Freund Building Supplies with another man and stole $727 and six cartons of cigarettes.

Defence counsel Michael Hansen said DeBoer sometimes spends up to $1,000 a day on his crack addiction and has never been to treatment.

"It's an explanation, not an excuse," Hansen added.

Before he was sentenced, DeBoer apologized to the community and the businesses for his actions. Judge Fred Coward sentenced him to 18 months each for the three break-ins, one month for breach of undertaking and two months for breach of probation. All sentences will be served at the same time.

The sentence would have been longer, except DeBoer received four months credit for the two months he had been in custody. DeBoer will also be placed on 18 months probation upon his release.