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SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE -A man was sentenced to nine months in jail on Friday, March 13 for attempting to sell a stolen laptop computer back to its rightful owners.

With time served in jail while awaiting trial, he was able to leave the courthouse after sentencing.

In territorial court, Daniel Hudson, 26, pleaded guilty to theft, possession of stolen property and escaping lawful custody.

On Oct. 26, 2008, Hudson, who is from Fort Smith, came into possession of a laptop computer belonging to Nahanni Construction in Yellowknife.

According to facts agreed upon by Crown and defence lawyers, Hudson called a Nahanni Construction employee and said he was interested in selling it back to them for $20. Hudson told the employee he had acquired the laptop that morning "after church" and that he needed the $20 for cab fare.

Hudson then biked out to a Nahanni Construction trailer, where he tried to sell the laptop for a higher asking price: $40.

While he was sitting in the trailer waiting for his reward, the employees on site called the RCMP.

Hudson was greeted by a police officer, who asked him his name.

"John," he replied.

He was asked for his last name but he did not reply.

The RCMP officer recognized him as a man wanted in connection to an Oct. 19 theft at Mac's convenience store.

He was put in a police vehicle and left alone.

The glass partition dividing the front and back seat was open. He climbed through the hole and into the front seat, escaped the vehicle and began running from the scene.

Somehow Hudson managed to slip his cuffs from behind his back to his front to allow him to run faster.

Defence lawyer Jay Bran said Hudson "didn't get very far," as an officer chased him down. Bran said Hudson was bruised in the takedown.

Crown lawyer Mike Himmelman was seeking a 13- to 15- month sentence, as Hudson had 17 prior convictions, many for breaching court orders.

Hudson had been in custody for 139 days and Bran argued that should count as part of his sentence.

Hudson rose and apologized to the court for his actions. He said before serving time in the jail he had helped build the facility, but he later ran into significant debt.

Judge Brian Bruser credited Hudson for his guilty pleas, as Himmelman had earlier stated the theft charge may have been difficult to prove with the former Wink's cashier now out of the country.

He sentenced Hudson to nine months in jail, and gave him two-for-one credit for his time spent in jail until his trial. He was released later that day.