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Fresh out of jail, Soo serial shoplifter targets the same stores again

The defence lawyer said his client, who "smokes weed," has difficulty staying out of trouble with the law when he's in the community
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Sault Ste. Marie Courthouse

Less than a week after Joshua Sleeman got out of jail in August, he was up to his old tricks.

The serial shoplifter immediately returned to the crime scenes that landed him behind bars in February – and it was déjà vu all over again.

Sleeman started stealing stuff from the same Soo convenience stores – not only racking up theft charges, but repeatedly breaching his probation order.

Earlier this month, he pleaded guilty to 12 offences, including four counts of stealing items from two Circle K stores. and four charges of breaching his probation order by going to the two stores. 

Sleeman, 39, was also convicted of four other violations for not reporting to his probation officer and failing to keep the peace.

Ontario Court Justice Heather Mendes, who had sentenced him to jail on Feb. 16, heard he was released from custody on Aug. 8.

Five days later, he showed up at a Circle K store where he made off with $136 worth of candy and chips.

On Sept. 9, Sleeman, dressed in black, took numerous food and candy items, valued at $229 prosecutor Andrew Allen said.

On Sept. 22, he made visits to the two stores where he pilfered products worth $200 from one of the businesses and $195 from the other.

After filing the accused's criminal record, Allen called for a 200-day jail term, less credit for the time Sleeman has spent in pre-sentence custody.

This would keep him behind bars for a further 122 days.

He told Mendes the Crown wasn't seeking any further probation because Sleeman "isn't going to abide by the order."

The accused "clearly doesn't get the meaning of probation," Allen said, and "if he keeps this up he's going to be sitting in jail." 

Defence lawyer Gerald Nsamba said his client, who "smokes weed," has difficulty staying out of trouble with the law when he's in the community.

The problem here is that Sleeman, suffering from drug abuse, keeps coming back to court for the same offences, he told Mendes. 

Nsamba asked the judge to impose a time-served sentence so his client could deal with his issues and access counselling. 

"He promises not to come back here."

When she imposed the Crown's proposed sentence, Mendes said unfortunately Sleeman "has committed the same thefts and breaches again and again."

His actions call out for specific deterrence and denunciation, and "the court has to send a clear message about his conduct."  


About the Author: Linda Richardson

Linda Richardson is a freelance journalist who has been covering Sault Ste. Marie's courts and other local news for more than 45 years.
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