Sault Ste. Marie man gets timed served for punching Dollarama employee

A Sault Ste. Marie man was sentenced to jail after punching a Dollarama employee who confronted him about shoplifting this summer but was released Friday with time served.

Since his arrest in July, 35-year-old Jeffrey Rivard served 152 days in presentencing custody.

On Friday, he pleaded guilty to stealing merchandise from the store while using violence against a person and breaching a court order to keep the peace in connection to the incident.

A joint submission from the Crown and defence asking for six months of incarceration and two years probation was accepted by Justice John Condon.

Rivard was released after receiving the 'Summers' credit at 1.5:1 for 120 days he spent in jail.

He appeared by video from the Algoma Remand and Treatment Centre.

Struggling with addiction

The court heard that Rivard turned to fentanyl after a divorce and job loss in 2020 took a toll on his mental health.

He was homeless with a prior record when he was arrested for assault and shoplifting at the Northern Avenue store the evening of July 7.

Rivard had 17 prior convictions since 2022, including assault, break and enter and property offences.

Defence attorney Jessica Belisle said his crimes directly related to his drug addiction.

"I won't be going back to those ways anymore," her client told the judge.

Threatened employee with metal tongs

Three of the charges against Rivard were dropped, including an assault charge, possessing a prohibited weapon and a second probation order.

When the employee first approached him in the store, Rivard threatened him with a set of metal tongs, telling him to get out of his way.

Rivard punched the man in the mouth when the employee stepped toward him and then fled carrying a duffel bag.

The victim managed to take a cellphone photo of him as he ran away.

Officers later found him down the street and a search revealed he was carrying a knife.

Remorseful for his actions

Since his latest arrest, Rivard has reconnected with his family and is scheduled to spend 30 days at a facility where he can get treatment for addiction.

He apologized to everyone he has harmed.

Condon said the impact on the worker he punched will be longer than any sentence he could give and banned Rivard from the store where the incident occurred.

The victim fine surcharge was waived.