Serial thief jailed till 2040

A repeat thief who has already spent half his adult life behind bars has been given another lengthy sentence that will see him jailed until 2040 for a series of break-ins while he was on parole.

• Read more: Once again a thief is again imprisoned

“We are talking about a pen [d’antécédents] It runs to 64 pages. »

Judge Stephen Paulin described the extent of the criminal life of Martin Paulin, who had already spent most of his life in prison and was not ready to get out.

The 51-year-old man was sentenced to 13 years in prison on Friday for a series of break-ins that took place between late 2021 and spring 2022. At the time the serial thief was on parole in one case. He was sentenced to 10 years in prison for similar offences.

$140,000 on 45 homes

It is Mode of operation The police were allowed to trace the accused. A forced door, a rear-facing exit, a chair to block the door in case the owners made a surprise return, and cleat shoes that left marks were recognizable by Pauline.

In total, the individual targeted 45 residences in Quebec, Charlevoix and Côte-de-Beuvre, stealing mostly cash and jewelry.

“The total amount of the thefts, this is what we were able to calculate, we’re talking about $140,852 in theft and $29,650 in damages,” Crown attorney Mr.^e Fabian Villemayer.

This sentence for the latter, the defense lawyer Mr.^e Gabriel Michaud-Brière.

Until 2040

The sentence is also consecutive to any sentence currently in force.

Poulin will serve the 10-year sentence already served until 2027, adding a new sentence of 13 years, leaving him behind bars until 2040.

“This is an individual that we don’t really have the tools for,” the attorney general’s representative acknowledged when presenting the proposed joint recommendation. “We will give the most extreme punishments according to the criminal law for the crimes we committed. »

“Otherwise, I know I deserve to be in prison for the rest of my life for what I’ve done, but I’m still happy to have one last chance at life,” said Martin Paulin, who is in his 70s. At the end of his sentence.

“Auto Sabotage”

M^e Michaud-Brière, who described his client’s criminal activities as “self-sabotaging”, stressed that he had undergone psychological and psychiatric follow-up since his return to custody.

He is known to have borderline personality disorder.

“Each time, I have everything I need to win outside, but when things go wrong I can’t manage and cause damage,” explained the serial thief, “what happened, my experience is very encouraging.”

This is the third significant sentence in recent years for Martin Paulin, who received 6 years in 2016, 10 years in 2017, for actions dating back to the first conviction, and finally, this time 13 years.