Hamilton bus theft case leads to longer jail sentence for treatment access
Hamilton bus theft sentence: 9 months in jail after a bus joyride with passengers Treatment and probation aim to reduce reoffending, with a two-year driving ban
A 36yearold man who stole a Hamilton city bus with passengers still aboard has been sentenced to nine months in jail, after agreeing to serve additional time so he could be admitted to a treatment facility in Brockville, Ontario.
Court heard that the man drove the bus for about 15 minutes in November before police stopped him on West 5th Street. Prosecutors said the incident was serious because passengers were unaware the driver was not the regular operator and the man had used crystal meth that day.
The judge recommended that he enter St. Lawrence Valley Correctional and Treatment Centre, saying the structured program could help reduce the risk of reoffending. In addition to jail time, the man will face three years of probation after release and a twoyear driving ban.