BY SCOTT HUNTER HADDOW
A young Sudbury man who has spent the last 14 months trying to rebuild his life was spared sentencing Tuesday until he finishes school.
Marc Adam Mathieu robbed the Dairy Queen on Lorne street twice in a span of about three weeks last February and March.
Mathieu, now 20, entered the establishment Feb. 23, 2003, and demanded the male employee open the cash register and threatened violence if he didn?t.
Mathieu motioned with his hand inside his jacket to imply he had some kind of weapon. No weapon was ever found and it hasn?t been determined if he ever had a weapon on him.
The employee complied and Mathieu made off with about $425.
On the night of March 11, 2003, Mathieu entered the same store and demanded the female employee to open the cash register.
Mathieu left the store with a sum of money. Police arrived a short time after and followed footprints in the snow to a nearby residence, where they
found Mathieu. Mathieu fully co-operated with police and admitted his responsibility for both robberies.
Defence counsel Mike Barnett told the court how Mathieu has dramatically changed his life around since these two serious incidents. Mathieu had
been using heavy drugs and drinking alcohol frequently and has gone clean and sober over the past 13 months.
Mathieu has obeyed all court orders since his arrest and has been enrolled in school, is living with his father and generally doing very well in life, said Barnett.
Barnett asked the court to impose a conditional sentence as opposed to jail. Barnett argued a custodial sentence would, in effect, jeopardize Mathieu?s rehabilitation efforts and commitment to finishing school.
Crown Attorney Fran Howe, although agreeing with the positive efforts made by Mathieu, was forced to ask for a jail sentence of 18 months, noting the long list of violent armed robberies that have plagued this community.
?There?s a lot of progress made by this young man... that?s why it?s painful for the Crown to ask for a custodial sentence,? said Howe. ?This community has been plagued with repeated robberies of this nature.?
Howe also asked the court to force Mathieu to provide a DNA sample, be prohibited from owning weapons for a period of 10 years and an extended period of probation that would include counseling for anger management and substance abuse.
Howe also asked for a condition Mathieu remain living with his father during the probation.
?He seems to go off the rails when he left his father?s home,? said Howe. ?Clearly, while living with his father, he has done well.?
Justice Guy Mahaffy withheld sentencing until Tuesday, July 13, after Mathieu completes his school year.
