A man who pleaded guilty to stealing items from two stores in Whitehorse was sentenced Monday afternoon to 90 days in jail.

Cary Lee Crowther, 48, appeared in territorial court wearing blue jeans and a hoodie.

Defence lawyer Malcolm Campbell said Crowther had been struggling with homelessness when he “ran afoul of the law.”

He was desperate for money to pay room and board, though he realizes stealing is not an acceptable way to obtain it, Campbell said.

Last March 28, a theft was reported at Meadia Solutions in downtown Whitehorse.

Upon responding, RCMP watched a surveillance video that showed a man place headphones and other items into a plastic bag, then walk out of the store without paying.

Police identified the man as Crowther. The total amount of the goods was $448.

Three days later, at 7:54 p.m., RCMP were called to Walmart to investigate a theft.

Crowther had taken several hundred dollars’ worth of goods, and there was a confrontation in the parking lot.

He dropped three reams of Kodak paper and ran away.

On April 29, police issued an arrest warrant. Two weeks later, on May 11, they arrested Crowther.

He is a member of the First Nation of Na-Cho Nyak Dun, Campbell said.

While at the Whitehorse Correctional Centre, he has completed a substance abuse management program and another program called For the Sake of the Children, for separating or divorcing parents.

When released, Crowther intends to seek employment for the remainder of the summer, Campbell said.

Judge Rene Foisy commented on the man’s lengthy criminal record, which includes other thefts.

“I hope you mean what you told your counsel, that this is going to stop and that you’re going to do something with your life,” he said.

Foisy imposed the sentence requested by Crown prosecutor Joanna Phillips – 90 days for each of the two counts, to be served concurrently.

Given credit for his time served in custody, Crowther will spend four more days in jail.

He also must pay a $100 victim fine surcharge on each count. Campbell requested four months to pay the fine.

The federal government’s Increasing Offenders’ Accountability for Victims Act, introduced last fall, made imposing victim surcharges mandatory.

For offences punishable by summary conviction, the surcharge is $100 and $200 for offences punishable by indictment.

The victim surcharge is 30 per cent of any fine imposed on the offender.

Previously, judges could decide to waive the victim surcharge when it was apparent that paying it would cause the offender “undue hardship.”

Surcharge money funds services for victims.