Theft Antidepressants 09/09/2008 Canada Young Man Steals From Employer: First Offense Summary:

Paragraph 9 reads:  "Duty counsel Doug Smith said O'Reilly needed the money to pay off bills and he was taking anti-depressants at the time of the theft."

"He said it was O'Reilly's first offence."





http://dailygleaner.canadaeast.com/cityregion/article/409341


A former Fredericton resident who stole cash from his employer was ordered Monday to pay the money back and to perform community-service work.

Matthew William O'Reilly, 23, now living in Saint John, pleaded guilty Monday to a Jan. 10 charge of theft from the Irving Mainway on Main Street.

Crown prosecutor Cameron Gunn said a fellow employee noticed Jan. 11 that one of the safe drops from the night before was missing.

A review of video surveillance at the store revealed that O'Reilly, who was working the night before, pocketed the cash.

Gunn said when police confronted him, he admitted to taking $210 in cash that he was supposed to drop in the safe.

O'Reilly was originally offered a chance to avoid a criminal record, Gunn said, by going through the alternative-measures program.

However, the Crown proceeded with charges after he failed to fulfil the conditions of the program.

Duty counsel Doug Smith said O'Reilly needed the money to pay off bills and he was taking anti-depressants at the time of the theft.

He said it was O'Reilly's first offence.

Smith said his client now works at a call centre in Saint John.

"I'm guilty for taking it. I really have nothing else to say," the accused told the court.

Judge Graydon Nicholas sentenced him to 15 months of probation.

During that time, O'Reilly must pay back the $210 and perform 25 hours of community-service work.