A6

By Madeleine Leclerc

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Speak Up

A 15-year-old Tobique First Nation youth received a four-month sentence to be served at the Miramichi Youth Correctional Centre, followed by two months of community supervision, in the wake of incidents which occurred this spring and summer.

The youth, who cannot be identified due to his age, slammed his way out of the courtroom in reaction to the sentence imposed by Judge Paul Duffie on Oct. 14, and launched an insult or two at the RCMP officer who was escorting him out.

"On April 22, the RCMP received a call from the youth's mother, a resident of the Tobique First Nation. She told police that her son had stolen a Play Station 2 and some change. He later sold it to a third party. The item worth between $200 and $300 was later recovered. The youth was on probation at the time," stated Crown prosecutor Charles Couturier.

"On August 29, another Tobique First Nation resident called the RCMP at 3:32 a.m. in relation to an ATV which had almost been stolen from a neighbour's property. Three youths were suspects in the case. The owner of the ATV saw three youths on bikes approximately 15 feet from his doorway. He and a neighbour got in a pickup and followed the youths who ran into a wooded area after leaving their bikes behind. One of the youths was identified as the accused and two other youths were later questioned," Couturier added.

"On Sept. 18, the youth was arrested and has been in remand since then. He was on probation at the time and failed to abide by his curfew. He was remanded for not complying with court orders. Residents of Tobique First Nation have concerns pertaining to his presence in the community," he told the court.

"This 15-year-old aboriginal offender seems to be out of control," Couturier said. "He continues to do as he pleases. He is impulsive and regrets his actions afterwards. His mother is not prepared to take him home nor are his relatives. Resources seem quite limited in his case. He has been before the court for a year and has property-related convictions and not obeying court orders. Concerns have been raised by the community. He has a clear pattern of non-compliance with court orders and continued property crimes."

"It is evident that he needs help. He has various issues to be addressed," stated Legal Aid defence lawyer Louis Picard. "It is clear that he acts on impulse and he still feels rejected and unloved by his family. He has psychological problems and has refused to take medication in the past."

"For a 15-year-old, you seem to have seen a lot of life. I sense that you've seem to have had a difficult road until now. You say you need help but sometimes that's what one says once they are caught," stated Judge Duffie.

"We're at a crossroads. You were prowling at night and planning to steal. It is most serious and a major violation. It could also be dangerous when an owner believes he should protect his home and his family. You need some help. Even the community is fed up with you," he added.

In sentencing the youth to four months of closed custody to be followed by two months of community supervision, Judge Duffie also ordered that the teenager undergo a fetal alcohol syndrome assessment.

"It's time to deal with it before something serious happens," he said.