An impaired driver had hit rock bottom when he crashed his vehicle for the second time in a week, a Bracebridge court heard earlier this week.
On Tuesday, Daniel Theoret, 35, was sentenced on two counts of impaired driving by drug and another count of breaching court-ordered terms.
Bracebridge OPP were called to a single-vehicle collision that happened on Highway 11 Northbound just north of Cedar Lane in Bracebridge on August 20, 2020 at 8:20 a.m. The vehicle left the roadway, collided with a guardrail and rolled over into the ditch.
OPP say the driver did not sustain any injuries.
Police arrived and conducted an investigation into the cause of the collision. Theoret was charged with Impaired Operation By Drug.
Then on August 25, 2020 at 8:40 a.m. an employee from Home Depot called Bracebridge OPP to report a theft from the store and was able to provide the necessary information that resulted in the arrest of the two men responsible. Police subsequently charged Thoeret and another Bracebridge man each with Theft Under $5000.
Theoret was again arrested following a car crash the same day and charged again with impaired driving by drug.
Theoret’s defense lawyer explained that Theoret had his own successful business before becoming involved in drugs. While Theoret had hit “rock bottom,” court heard he was starting to turn his life around.
Theoret explained to the court that his ongoing addiction had been a problem for some time but he has now been clean for one year.
“I usually build my life up for a year and then tear it down,” said Theoret. “I regret my decisions and I’m grateful no one was hurt.”
In total, Theoret was sentenced to $2,500 in fines, a two year driving ban and 12 months probation. He was also ordered to pay $427 to charity in lieu of community service and to pay restitution to Home Depot of just under $500.
Justice Ted Carlton agreed to the joint submission but said it was on the very low end of the range considering the fact that Theoret had put the public in great danger twice in four days.
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