By Ryan Pilon

Man sentenced for stealing SUV, leaving child in an alley

Dec 20, 2010 | 4:27 PM

The man who stole a vehicle in Prince Albert with a three-year-old child inside, before abandoning the child in an alley has been sentenced to 16 months in jail.

Colin Umpherville, 20, changed his plea to guilty to stealing the SUV, as well as unlawfully abandoning or exposing a child under the age of 10, and thereby endangering or likely endangering the life or health of the child.

The 16 months in jail will be in addition to the 53 days he spent in custody. The maximum sentence he could have received was 18 months.

“We thought in all circumstances it was an appropriate sentence … given that it was close to the maximum sentence he could’ve received,” said Jeff Lubyk, Crown prosecutor.

The incident occurred Oct. 26. The young boy’s father left the vehicle running to go into a Co-op gas station to get a gas gage. Umpherville noticed the SUV running, jumped in and took it.

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A local couple found the boy and called the police. He was reunited with his parents after about 40 minutes.

For more on this story:

Grandparents save missing child from the cold

Court appearance for alleged SUV thief

Trial set for man accused of stealing vehicle, abandoning child

rpilon@panow.com