Prince Albert Provincial Court. (Nigel Maxwell/paNOW Staff)

By Nigel Maxwell

Crime

Rural crime spree results in one year jail sentence

Aug 3, 2022 | 2:26 PM

A woman who planned and assisted with multiple property crimes in the Prince Albert area has received a 12-month jail sentence.

Cheyenne Ballantyne, 31, appeared by video Wednesday for her sentence hearing at Prince Albert Provincial Court.

The offences date back to March 17, 2021, when Ballantyne and two others went to a property in the Rural Municipality of Paddockwood. After breaking into an outbuilding and damaging one of the security cameras, the trio proceeded to steal a number of tools including a chainsaw and table saw. They also stole some gas and the snow plow for a quad.

All three were located and arrested shortly after as the vehicle was located by police, stuck in the ditch. A statement provided by one of the accused indicated Cheyenne had reached out to them for help.

“Hey I gotta do this and you guys can help me out right,” they said, adding they felt they had no choice.

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Ballantyne was granted bail 10 days later but while out proceeded to ignore court conditions to report, and on one occasion was located by police in an unlicensed vehicle at Sturgeon Lake.

Fast forward to last May, when police responded to a complaint of a suspicious vehicle near Tweedsmuir. Ballantyne and a co-accused had tried unsuccessfully to steal a truck and trailer from a rural property.

When located by police, a flat screen TV that had been in the trailer, was found inside the suspect vehicle with Ballantyne. Roughly $2,000 damage had been caused to the vehicle they tried to steal as well as to the gate to the property.

Defence submissions

Lawyer Val Harvey noted prior to these charges, Ballantyne had no criminal record. She also explained Ballantyne had developed an addiction to crystal meth and subsequently lost her kids, and the respect of her family.

Since being in custody, Harvey said Ballantyne had expressed a desire to make a change in her life, and so was asking for a community sentence to allow Ballantyne to attend a treatment centre at a time when she was ready to commit.

When given the opportunity to speak, Ballantyne too expressed her desire to seek out help and start over again.

Her mother was in court for the proceedings and explained to the judge her daughter had been a “good girl” up until her husband, a drug dealer, had left her.

The mother also explained how Ballantyne and her two sisters had been affected by meth, and she was glad when she received word Cheyenne had been picked up

“I couldn’t support her when she was under meth,” she said. “I just had to let them go and be on their own and face the consequences of what they are doing.”

The mother explained she told her daughters she would be there for them when they were clean and ready to make a positive change.

Noting Ballantyne’s background and family support, Judge S. Schiefner explained there are some cases that do call out for significant sentences. He noted now in this case the offences occurred over several months, and the victims were vulnerable rural residents.

“You planned it,” Schiefner reminded Ballantyne.

Schiefner reiterated the feelings of frustration and violation felt by rural residents when these types of offences occur.

“That many victims over thar much time calls out for a custodial sentence,” he said.

Ballantyne was granted 72 days remand credit and upon her releasee from custody, will be prohibited from owning or possessing any firearms or explosives for a period of 10-years.

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nigel.maxwell@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell