Photo: PG RCMP

A photo of Mercier distributed by Prince George RCMP in Nov. 2016

A young woman has been sentenced to just under 10 months in prison for her role in a violent, drug-induced crime spree across the Kootenays and South Okanagan late last year.

Michelle Britany Mercier, 21, received the sentence Monday in Penticton court for a trio of vehicle thefts in Dec. 2016 that ended with her and an accomplice being gassed out of an Oliver trailer by an RCMP emergency response team.

Crown prosecutor Andrew Vandersluys told the courtroom Mercier was spotted stealing merchandise from a Cranbrook Superstore on Dec 13, 2016, with Dillan Cote. At the time, she was out on bail and was barred from having contact with Cote. The pair fled as loss prevention tried to stop them

Shortly after 5 a.m. the next morning, a woman in Cranbrook called police to inform them her car was stolen. The woman had picked Mercier and Cote “out of the cold,” and allowed them to stay at her home. At some point overnight, the pair stole her car, leaving a note saying “sorry.”

A little over one hour after the car was reported stolen, Grand Forks RCMP was dispatched to a crash in Christina Lake, reported by OnStar. The stolen car had hit a ditch and sign, deploying both airbags.

A good samaritan that stopped to help at the crash scene offered the pair a ride into Oliver, but when he stopped for gas, Mercier and Cote stole his truck and fled. That truck went off the road down a large embankment on Hwy 3 about three kilometres east of Osoyoos shortly afterwards.

A mother and three children aged 6, 9 and 12 that stopped to help at the second crash scene were then carjacked by Mercier and Cote and left on the side of the highway. The mother had called police prior to Cote taking her phone and throwing it in a ditch. The car was later found abandoned at the Oliver hospital.

South Okanagan RCMP learned that the fugitives were hiding out on a property in Oliver. There was concern the pair was armed, so an emergency response team was called in.

After a 10 hour standoff, police lobbed a tear gas grenade into the building where the two were hiding, arresting them early Dec. 15.

The Crown argued for a 217 day sentence. Cote, who had a significant previous criminal record, was sentenced to six years in July.

Defence lawyer Mandy Cheema asked the judge to impose a jail-free conditional sentence, stating she had no previous criminal record. She added Mercier has removed Cote from her life and found a new partner, gesturing to 47-year-old man in an olive suit in the gallery.

“Would you say that’s a positive influence?” Judge Gregory Koturbash asked Cheema.

The defence lawyer suggested the relationship “works” despite the age difference because he is “mature,” and without a criminal record.

Mercier stood to read from a statement apologizing for her actions, saying she was in a “dark place” at the time, using cocaine and speed.

Koturbash did not bite.

“There are drug addicts that don’t commit crimes at all,” he said. “There are drug addicts that commit property related offences to fuel their addiction. But when drug addicts start committing acts of violence, it's particularly concerning.”

“The fact that good samaritans were preyed upon and children were present, weighs very heavily on my decision,” he said, adding she has created a “chilling effect” for the victims to act as good samaritans in the future.

Koturbash imposed an overall sentence of 300 days, above what the Crown was seeking, in addition to 18 months probation. With credit for time served, she has 234 days left on her sentence.

The court also heard that ICBC is pursuing civil action worth $27,000 against her for the three damaged cars.