Described by his own counsel as “Innisfail’s most wanted” for a stretch this year, a Penhold man pleaded guilty to several property crime offences.
Gary Raymond Auvigne, 40, was arrested a few times this year starting back in early January.
On Monday, in Red Deer provincial court he pleaded guilty to nine counts before judge Gordon Deck. Of those nine counts, five were for possession of stolen property.
Innisfail RCMP began surveillance on Auvigne in late 2014. On Jan. 24, they had obtained a search warrant for his residence in Penhold. In a release, police said the residence was the subject of more than 70 complaints of suspicious people, vehicles and incidents at the residence.
Among the items police recovered was a stolen box of pint glasses from the Tilted Kilt in Red Deer and windows stolen from Laebon Homes. Auvigne pleaded guilty to having those items in his possession.
Prior to the January arrest warrant, Auvigne had been arrested four times dating back to July, 2014.
He also pleaded guilty to breaching a recognizance. While police conducted surveillance they observed Auvigne breach it by driving a vehicle past his curfew.
On Sept. 8, 2015, Auvigne was arrested again, this time by Blackfalds RCMP. Police were called to report of a suspicious vehicle on Range Road 10. When police arrived on scene they found a vehicle with no lights on stopped in the middle of the road.
Police confirmed the vehicle was reported stolen and approached the vehicle. They found Auvigne slumped over the steering wheel. According to police the driver’s door was damaged and the ignition was also broken.
Police also found 2.3 grams of methamphetamine on Auvigne when they searched him.
Brad Mulder, defence counsel, said Auvigne had led a productive life up until the last year-and-a-half.
A truck driver by trade, Auvigne tore both of his rotator cuffs leaving him unable to work. As part of rehabilitation he was prescribed painkillers he became dependent on. When the prescription ran out, the pain did not and Auvigne sought other drugs to fill the void.
Mulder said this led to Auvigne develop an addiction to methamphetamine. This addiction led him down a dark path, leading to property crime and letting his home become a flop house for unsavoury characters.
Deck sentenced Auvigne to five months in custody. Auvigne has been detained since his arrest on Sept. 8. Deck gave him 86 days of pre-sentence custody credit, leaving Auvigne with 64 days left to serve.
Auvigne also faces charges from an arrest in May, including 16 trafficking charges. Mulder and Crown Prosecutor Victoria Foster said they were in resolution discussions and requested an adjournment to Dec. 3 in Red Deer provincial court, which was granted.
mcrawford@www.reddeeradvocate.com