A man with a lengthy criminal record for crimes of dishonesty is headed back to jail.
Paul Andre Berube, 29, of Red Deer was sentenced to six months in jail Wednesday after pleading guilty to five charges including four stolen property offences and possession of a kilogram of marijuana when he appeared in Red Deer provincial court.
Berube was also placed on probation for two years after his sentenced is finished. He must also surrender a sample of his DNA and is prohibited from owning or possessing firearms and explosives for 10 years.
Judge John Holmes heard Berube had 23 previous convictions for crimes of dishonesty mostly related to stolen property.
Six other charges were withdrawn in exchange for the guilty pleas.
Federal Crown prosecutor Dave Inglis argued for a nine to 12-month sentence while defence lawyer Lorne Goddard said three or four months plus probation would suffice.
The offences occurred in 2009 and in one case involved a motor home and a utility trailer, which were stolen and sold.
Holmes said property crimes are “all too prevalent in our community” and must be denounced.
He said the motor home theft not only hurt the owner but the people who bought it from Berube because they may have lost their money when it was recovered.
“The people who bought it may have suffered losses,” Holmes said.
“You have essentially chosen to live a life of crime,” Holmes told Berube in acknowledging that the accused has attempted to turn his life around in the last year.
jwilson@www.reddeeradvocate.com