Mom will give birth to her 10th child while behind bars for having her 11-year-old daughter shoplift for her
By Hannah Spray, The StarPhoenix
A woman who got her 11-year-old child to shoplift for her will give birth to her 10th child while behind bars.
Tanya Armstrong, 31, pleaded guilty Tuesday to committing the theft while she was serving a conditional sentence in the community.
There are about 285 days left on that sentence, which she will now serve in jail, along with an additional 45 days for the new theft charge.
“Having your daughter pinch stuff for you is really bad news,” Judge Brent Klause told Armstrong during her sentencing in Saskatoon provincial court.
The theft occurred on Aug. 24 at the Safeway store on 33rd Street West. Store security saw Armstrong with two young girls, one of whom was carrying a bag that Armstrong put items into.
Armstrong told the children to leave and they exited the store to a waiting van, but were confronted along with Armstrong by store security. They had $118.07 in food items.
Crown prosecutor Frank Impey said the Crown was concerned about Armstrong “using her little girl to shoplift for her.”
Armstrong was initially released on bail but failed to attend court in September and was arrested recently on an outstanding warrant.
Armstrong, who has struggled with cocaine and alcohol abuse, has nine children and is pregnant with her 10th, due in May. The nine children have been apprehended by Social Services.
She said this was a good time for her to put this behind her.
“It’s the best time to go to jail and get it done with,” Armstrong said.
Klause advised her to focus on herself and her health while serving time.
“You’re handling more issues than everyone else in this room is handling,” he said.
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