His most recent crime dates back to last July, at the Tigre Géant store in Chicoutimi. Éric Boudreault stole items worth a total of $180 to help out a friend in difficulty, he claims.
According to him, each time he cracks down, it is to “buy friends.” The Crown prosecutor, however, pointed out to him that that day, he also stole a men’s watch. “I told myself that while I’m at it, I’m going to take a piece too,” he admitted.
With his outspokenness and his crude remarks, Éric Boudreault’s appearance in court was remarkable. He even admitted to committing two other thefts after his arrest last summer.
“You ask me the truth, I tell it!”, he told judge Sonia Rouleau.
Even if these actions are reprehensible, Éric Boudreault affirms that he is “not a danger to anyone”. “You are dangerous for businesses, for example, and we are the ones paying for that,” the judge said to call him to order.
“Lenient” sentence
Since his release from prison last April, Éric Boudreault has been staying with his parents and helping a few neighbors maintain their land, for a certain amount of money. In a written testimony, his parents confirmed that cohabitation is going well with their son.
Judge Sonia Rouleau opted for the Crown’s suggestion. (Jeannot Lévesque/Archives Le Quotidien)
Community prison, however, is an option that is difficult to reconcile with the accused’s marijuana addiction problems, who use it on a daily basis.
His numerous criminal records also made the judge lean towards the Crown’s suggestion, which proposed between six and seven months of detention, a sentence described as “lenient” by the magistrate.
“Although lenient, it seems reasonable to me in the circumstances and I say reasonable with a very small ‘r’.”
His lawyer, Me Olivier Théorêt, suggested instead 240 hours of compensatory work.
A model prisoner
Judge Rouleau reminded the accused that the maximum sentence for theft of this nature is two years and that it could have been appropriate in his case.
She repeatedly emphasized that man would have the intelligence and ability to get out of this situation, if he really wanted to.
“I am a model prisoner,” he boasted. “It would be fun if you became a model citizen,” retorted the judge.
“With all the sentences I’ve had, I should have spanked one,” said the disconcertingly honest man.
