(As printed in the courts section of the Telegraph Journal Wed, Sept.
14th 2005)
The only thing a Barnsville woman has to show for a quest in a big win
with Video Lottery Terminals (VLT's) is a conditional jail sentence and
three years probation.
Ms. Barbara Suzanne Fleck 38, of Barnesville, was sentenced to six
months to be served in the community and three years probation after
pleading guilty to theft over $5,000.00 in Provincial Court in Hampton.
The Court heard Tuesday that Ms. Fleck stole $12,230.00 from her
employer, J.M. Hoovey Insurance, in order to finance a compulsive gambling
addiction.
Ms. Fleck’s lawyer, John King, told the court that his client was remorseful for what she had done and that her actions were the result of an addiction to VLT’s and lottery tickets.
She has been ordered to pay $500.00 a month in restitution until the amount is paid back.
Which once again begs the question of why do these Judges not feel in all their wisdom that they should order a mandatory rehab with the sentence handed down to this and other individuals?
Could it be that they know there is no such effective program and or no way for these individuals to get to the one location that even talks about this subject?
And as it is well documented in most past sentencing of criminal acts committed involving the use of alcohol and or drugs includes such an attachment to sentencing, i.e.: drinking and driving or causing bodily harm or theft and or destruction of property while under the influence of either of these addictions.
Yet VLT's are too a drug of choice as it is well documented that VLT's are indeed highly addictive and has been labeled The Crack Cocaine of Gambling which in turn hurts many others around you from Family members, your neighbors all the way to your employer and as all drugs of choice are harmful to your personal well being.
As is the proof of these types of crimes are on the rise at a higher level as time passes and all you have to do to see this increase is to read the' In The Courts section of your local newspapers.
But as of yet the only way of knowing we’ve had another suicide in our community from this addiction,
((Of which we have here in Saint John N.B. this past Summer)) is by word of mouth simply because it is too hard for Family members to come to grips with such a shocking and horrifying reality that someone in their family has been afflicted to this disease and the embarrassing societal title that it carries which by the way is just simply not the case.
I believe it is high time this Government steps forward and admits that this program is in total disarray and MUST be overhauled and Properly regulated without further delay as they are partly responsible for these community crimes as they are the ones running it and the ONLY ones benefiting financially at these addicted persons expense.
Families who have lost loved ones must step forward with their emotional stories. If you know everyone who went throught a emotional experience? Please tell them to phone me < Tim Smith > at 693- 9464. Thank You.
(More to follow soon).
