Stealing a reindeer lawn ornament from a local bakery was just one of many poor decisions that landed a local man behind bars, Bracebridge court heard yesterday.
Appearing virtually from a correctional facility, Ryian Chevrette, 39, pleaded guilty to multiple charges including theft, uttering death threats and breaching court orders.
Court heard that on Dec. 5, 2020, Chevrette and his cousin stopped at Erika’s Bakery on Highway 60 in Dwight. While his cousin was in the store, Chevrette grabbed an ornamental deer, valued at approximately $200, and threw it in the back of the truck his cousin was driving.
Chevrette’s attorney, Riali Johannesson, said the incident was part of a, “remarkably stupid and criminal prank.”
Johannesson said Chevrette told his cousin that he had taken out her new truck and hit a deer, before showing her the stolen lawn ornament in the back of the truck.
Police circulated photos of the incident caught on video surveillance to try and identify the suspect, and the court heard it was ultimately another police officer who saw the photo and recognized Chevrette immediately.
Chevrette’s problems mounted in March of 2021, when police were called to a dispute in Mactier. Chevrette’s roommate told police that Chevrette had threatened to kill him and his entire family.
He was later arrested in Mactier after a resident called police to say Chevrette had stolen a number of items from his vehicle.
The Crown attorney presented Chevrette’s record and said it was some six pages long and included 12 violent crimes, 15 theft convictions and 44 breaches of various court-ordered conditions.
An emotional Chevrette admitted that he had made, “a lot of bad decisions.” He said he had a rough childhood, as well as problems with drugs and alcohol, but he was ready to get his life back on track.
He also said he was suffering from a severe medical problem, which was not being properly treated at the facility.
A decision on sentencing was postponed to allow the court to get more information about Chevrette’s medical condition.
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