(BEN BULMER / iNFOnews.ca)

A Prince George woman facing charges of fraud after being caught with a stolen U-Haul vehicle and several different ID's was sentenced to two weeks jail time at the Vernon courthouse yesterday, Jan. 7.

Tasha Lynn Baumle was arrested outside Walmart in Vernon in March 2019 after security guards saw her on surveillance camera shoplifting from the store. The security guards called police who arrested the 37-year-old as she was approaching the U-Haul vehicle. On searching the vehicle, police found a B.C. driver's licence and three different healthcare cards all in different names. She'd also stolen chocolate bars, food, and a heating pad from Walmart totalling $63.

Baumle was ultimately charged with personation with intent to gain an advantage, dealing with an identity document without a lawful excuse, and charges for theft both under and over $5,000.

Without explanation, the Crown stayed the personation with intent to gain an advantage charge, and Baumle pled guilty to the three remaining charges. Why, or how Baumle had come to have several different identification cards was not discussed in the courtroom.

Defence lawyer Tiffany Zanatta told the court with the exception of several recent breaches of probation and prohibited driving charges, Baumle had a largely clean criminal record.

"You don't often see somebody starting a criminal record at 37 years old," she said.

Zanatta told the court how Baumle had worked as an insurance agent for 13 years before going off with stress in 2013 and had not returned to work in the insurance industry. She had also struggled with alcoholism in her twenties.

Judge Jeremy Guild questioned why Baumle was being charged with theft of the U-Haul vehicle, instead of breach of contract for not returning it on time. The court heard the rental company had made repeated requests for Baumle to return the vehicle before finally reporting it stolen to the RCMP.

In a joint submission, the lawyers requested a 15-day jail sentence, followed by one-year probation. As Baumle had been in custody since Dec. 28, 2019, with time served the sentence meant she would be immediately released.

Speaking via video from custody Baumle told the judge she was "looking forward to doing positive things" in her life.

"As you have found out the reality of jail is not so nice," the judge said. "You've made good choices in the past, now it's time to start making good choices again."

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