A Kitchener area man with a history of stealing credit cards and running up substantial debts will spend another three months in jail on top of three months he's already spent behind bars.
Jeffrey Stadelbauer, 33, pleaded guilty to racking up $1,400 in charges at an electronics store in the New Sudbury Centre from a stolen credit card on Aug. 25. He purchased several pieces of computer equipment on the same day the credit card was reported missing.
Stadelbauer also had the keys to a stolen car reported missing from the Kitchener area when Greater Sudbury Police arrested him at a local hotel hours after the credit card was reported missing by its owner.
Assistant Crown attorney Grace Kurke said hotel staff became suspicious when Stadelbauer wouldn't allow cleaning staff into his hotel room the day in question.
When police arrived, Stadelbauer was obviously under the influence of drugs, said Kurke.
Defence counsel Stephanie Baker said Stadelbauer has a long record of committing similar offenses. He has accumulated a substantial criminal record because he has a serious drug addiction and has resorted to stealing and misusing credit cards to feed his drug addiction.
Her client has made inquiries about attending a drug addiction recovery program in Sudbury once he's released, she said.
Considering her client's lengthy record and the circumstances of this case, a sentence of nine months would not be inappropriate in this case, said Baker.
Considering Stabelbauer has been behind bars since his arrest in late August, an additional three months in custody would be appropriate, said Justice Guy Mahaffy.
