Author of the article: The Whig-Standard
Publishing date: Apr 26, 2021 • 4 hours ago • 13 minute read
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A compilation of offences from Kingston’s Ontario Court of Justice for the period of Jan. 18-22, 2021. Only sentences that involved a large fine, probation or incarceration are included.
Dwight M. Algate, 53, was convicted of thefts committed nine days apart in December 2020 from the 1100 Princess St. Loblaws store and Kingston’s Walmart store. He was given double credit on 25 days of pretrial custody and sentenced to a further 30 days in jail. Justice Larry O’Brien was told that Algate attempted to wheel $213 worth of merchandise out the front doors of Loblaws without paying but was intercepted by a loss prevention officer, who managed to wrest the cart away from him. Assistant Crown attorney John Skoropada said Algate subsequently re-entered the store and tried to reclaim the cart but wasn’t successful. Nine days later, Algate was in Kingston’s Walmart store when, according to Skoropada, he attracted the attention of an assistant manager who started watching him after spotting a 50-inch TV in his cart. The judge was told that Algate managed to get out of the store with his loot and without paying, but Kingston Police were nearby and, having been alerted about the theft, were able to prevent Algate’s getaway and recover the merchandise. Skoropada said Algate reacted to being caught by taunting the officers, telling them: “I’ll be out in weeks,” and “you’re a f—— joke.” Algate’s lawyer, Mark Snider, told the judge his client has what he described as a provisional diagnosis of bipolar disorder, as well as panic and anxiety disorders, asthma and a methamphetamine addiction, all of which, he suggested, had made custody during a pandemic particularly difficult for him. In sentencing him, Justice O’Brien told his lawyer that Algate has “an uphill to-do list,” given his mental health and addiction issues and suggested, “He needs to be in the mood in a bigger way than the past would indicate.” Justice O’Brien told Algate, “The attitude we can do without; the addictions we’ll help you with that.”