ATHABASCA — A Lac La Biche area woman got off with time served and a warning from her longtime lawyer after going on a $1,100 spending spree with a stolen debit and credit card in February.
Shelby Tremblay pleaded guilty to theft of a credit card, obstructing a police officer and possession of stolen property in Athabasca Court of Justice Mar. 24, as part of a sentencing deal that saw one additional charge of theft under $5,000 and 12 charges for theft of a credit card dropped.
Crown prosecutor Taylor Noble told court on Feb. 12, an orange Coach purse was reported stolen out of a vehicle on 47 Street.
Tremblay used the ATB bank and Mastercard in the purse to buy items at 13 different locations around Athabasca, including at liquor and cannabis stores, restaurants, gas stations, and other local businesses. In all, Tremblay spent a total of $1,112 using both cards.
Two days later, RCMP received a suspicious persons complaint, and upon locating and questioning Tremblay, officers found her with the orange purse, several purchased items and confirmed her use of the cards in businesses around town via CCTV footage.
Noble highlighted recent convictions for theft and stolen items in 2023 as aggravating circumstances, but pointed to Tremblay’s culpability as more relevant to sentencing.
“The accused was actively using the credit card that she knows was not hers, she used it multiple times,” said Noble. “When she was caught, she lied to the RCMP.”
Justice Rosanna Saccomani accepted Tremblay’s guilty pleas, but not before hearing from longtime defence counsel Richard Mirasty.
“She’s 33, I’ve known her for pretty well 18 years, since I started practising in the Lac La Biche area,” said Mirasty. “She’s faced a lifetime of trauma.”
“She did really well, she went into treatment, and unfortunately the addictions and the past trauma has come to the fore again and she finds herself back in trouble,” said Mirasty. “She’s getting a little older — it’s time to grow up there, Shelby.”
Tremblay was given 50 days in custody, satisfied by time spent in the Edmonton Remand Centre ahead of court resolution.
