A woman who had admitted her role in staging an elaborate "faked" robbery is going to jail.
Carla Wilson, 21, was sentenced to eight months in custody by Judge David Kaiser in provincial court Monday, June 21 in North Battleford. She had previously pleaded guilty in March to robbery under $5,000 and a mischief count.
The crime took place Dec.r 6, 2009 shortly after 3 p.m. Wilson reported to police she had been the victim of a robbery at a downtown ATM, telling the RCMP a masked man had pointed an object into her back and demanded cash while she was making a deposit of $3,893.46 on behalf of her employer, the Happy Inn. The masked man, who was covered in dark clothes, made off with the cash.
Following an investigation it was learned Wilson had staged the robbery along with co-accused, Aaron Conners, to profit from the theft. The two had split up the cash. Conners got around $2,200 to $2,300 with Wilson getting $1,600.
Conners was previously sentenced to six months jail (which wound up being reduced due to time in remand) and 12 months probation after pleading guilty to the robbery under $5,000 charge.
The Crown and the defence had different ideas about the sentence Wilson should receive. Crown prosecutor Suzanne Reid called for 12 to 18 months behind bars, saying Wilson was "essentially the mastermind behind the offence." She also noted Wilson had a prior conviction, receiving a suspended sentence for stealing from another former employer, Walmart.
Defence lawyer Stacey O'Brien called for a community-based sentence. He argued Wilson had been coerced into going along with the faked robbery and argued fear of her boyfriend's brother led her to participate. She also noted Wilson was remorseful and had written a letter apologizing to the Happy Inn.
The divergence on the coercion issue almost prompted judge Kaiser to set up a full-blown sentencing hearing to settle the questions of fact.
Instead, sworn statements were read before the court by Reid, who summed up the statements by saying there was "nothing to suggest she was forced or coerced."
There was some indication in the statements of a reluctance to proceed with the robbery, though, as counsel agreed Wilson believed initially the deposit was to be made for a much larger amount of $7,000 and had suggested to her co-conspirator they not go ahead, but was persuaded by Aaron Conners to go proceed.
The judge asked Wilson if there was anything she wanted to say before sentence was passed. A tearful Wilson expressed remorse for what happened.
"I'm not a bad person I've just made some horrible mistakes," said Wilson, who said she was hoping to graduate from a business administration diploma program. She said she was trying to better herself and "be a better person."
Judge Kaiser was not swayed, however, and took note that Conner had stolen from her employer, noting the special obligation people have to employers because they are in a position of trust.
Kaiser also dismissed claims Wilson might have been coerced, noting the Happy Inn was located right next to the RCMP building and she could simply have taken the option to "walk right next door."
The judge went ahead to sentence Wilson to eight months in jail. The judge was not prepared to make ancillary orders for restitution and no probation is to follow.
A tearful Wilson was then led away in handcuffs into custody to serve her sentence.
