Alex Kurial
Local Journalism Initiative

An Alvinston man will be spending 20 days in jail after pleading guilty letting a man into visit him.

Brendan Recker, 32, had plead guilty at the end of May to nine different charges taking place over the last four years. This included a high-speed police chase through Petrolia and a break-in at a Dawn-Euphemia farm in the span of less than a month last year.

Recker was sentenced to six months of house arrest to be followed by six months at home observing a curfew, along with two years of probation. He also had several people to stay away from.

But it took just two days before he broke his parole conditions.

On May 30, Recker was visited by another man who Recker had been told to avoid contact with. He allowed him into his home, unaware that the other man was being watched by a member of the Lambton OPP.

After arresting the other man, police attempted to arrest Recker as well, but he refused to open the door.

Several days later a warrant was obtained for Recker’s arrest, and he was taken into custody in the early hours of June 4.

“That condition was very obviously and flagrantly breached just two days after Mr. Recker received what I would submit is a very generous sentence given the crimes that he was convicted of,” Crown attorney David Nicol said of the breach. “In order for that sentence to have the effects it’s supposed to of denunciation and deterrence, there have to be consequences for breaching that sentence.”

Nicol suggested that Recker should face 30 days in jail for the breach.

Defense attorney Elizabeth Ferris argued for 15 days. “This period back in custody has really shaken him. It’s caused him a lot of distress, and he really recognizes and understands the importance of complying with all terms of the order.”

Justice Deborah Austin – who had sentenced Recker just 12 days prior – decided on 20 days in jail. Recker’s conditions will remain the same as the original sentence.