KENTVILLE, N.S.
A 21-year-old former volunteer firefighter who stole cash and an Apple iPad from his department has been sentenced to 45 days in jail to be served on weekends.
Devon Wayne Douglas Fleet pleaded guilty in Kentville provincial court this week to three counts of theft.
Crown attorney Jim Fyfe said Fleet was a probationary member of the New Minas Volunteer Fire Department in February of this year. He said department officials contacted RCMP after reviewing security video and seeing the thefts.
Fyfe said that on Feb. 15 Fleet was seen on video forcing open the cash register in the department’s canteen and taking the float of between $60 and $90. Video from four days later showed him forcing open the register again. He also took the iPad from one of the department’s vehicles.
Fleet took the iPad to a game store in a nearby mall and sold it for $200, about a third of its value, Fyfe said. The fire department recovered the device.
Fyfe said Fleet has a number of prior convictions, including for theft, and that stealing from the department was a breach of the department’s trust.
Fyfe had recommended two months in jail for the thefts, plus another month for two other thefts from the Canadian Tire store in New Minas. Fleet stole an air tool worth $120 on one day, and a number of ratchet sets worth $840 on another.
Defence lawyer Brian Vardigans suggested a conditional sentence. Judge Alan Tufts said he couldn’t do that with Fleet’s record and the element of breach of trust to the fire department.
He said he imposed the sentence “with considerable regret because you’re so young, but this is the next step that has to happen.”
Fleet was also placed on 18 months probation and was ordered him to pay restitution to Canadian Tire and the game store.
-Ian Fairclough
