MOOSE JAW — The death of two family members caused Christopher John Finlay to use drugs to cope with their losses, which eventually led to him losing his home and resorting to stealing to survive.
His first theft occurred in May, when he and his common-law wife visited Pharmasave, where he stole 11 Ensure protein bottles valued at $220, Crown prosecutor Rob Parker said during Finlay’s sentencing in Moose Jaw Provincial Court recently. Police did not recover the bottles.
His second significant theft occurred on Aug. 8, when he broke into a parking meter and stole money from it, Parker continued. A witness saw him remove the metered head, take the money and then toss the head onto the grass.
The Crown prosecutor noted that when police arrested Finlay, 49, they found tools on him that he had used, while they also recovered $26.15 in change.
The man’s third major theft occurred on Aug. 19, when he visited the Co-op grocery store and stole a container of protein powder worth $69, Parker added. The store’s security cameras captured him taking the item, which was never recovered.
During his sentencing, Finlay pleaded guilty to three thefts, one mischief charge, and eight counts of failing to comply with court orders. Meanwhile, the Crown stayed several other charges.
Parker explained that on March 27, the court released Finlay on conditions to not contact or be near his common-law wife. However, he disobeyed those orders, and between April 26 and May 11 and on July 11, the police found him with his spouse.
As part of a joint submission between the Crown and defence, the former Ontario man received 30 days in jail, while he will spend 12 months on probation. Furthermore, he must keep the peace and be of good behaviour and take personal programming.
However, since he had been in custody since September, the court credited him with time served, which meant he no longer had to remain in jail.
Parker noted that the sentence struck the appropriate balance between denunciation and deterrence and probation and rehabilitation.
Finlay moved to Moose Jaw from Ontario in 2002, but in 2016, his dad and brother died within months of each other, while his best friend was murdered, Tarin Salh, a Legal Aid representative, told Judge David Chow.
The man began using drugs in 2019 to cope with those losses, while a year later, he lost possession of his kids and moved to Toronto, she continued. He returned to Moose Jaw on Dec. 31, 2022, and resumed using drugs, which led to him losing his home.
Finlay overdosed on drugs this past January and was in the hospital for 12 days on life support, and then slept in the mental health ward for several weeks before he was released onto the streets, Salh said.
Parker indicated that Finlay slept at Willow Lodge’s homeless shelter when he could.
“Chris feels great remorse for his actions … ,” Salh continued. “When I look at the facts, the crimes committed seem to be for survival rather than profit.”
Salh added that Finlay plans to move away from Moose Jaw to live with his oldest son, while she asked the judge to waive the victim fund surcharge.
Judge Chow accepted the joint submission and agreed to waive the surcharge.
