How do you sentence a man with 135 convictions?

That’s the question Yukon territorial court had to deal with on Thursday at Wayne Jackson’s sentencing hearing for theft.

Jackson, 49, tried to steal $154 worth of goods from Canadian Tire on Sept. 2, 2015.

Judge Michael Cozens convicted him after both parties filed an agreed statement of facts outlining the day’s event.

The defence urged Cozens to impose a short sentence so Jackson could attend an aboriginal healing camp.

The Crown, however, noted Jackson is most likely to re-offend.

His criminal record amounts to four convictions a year for the past 30 years, Crown prosecutor Joanna Phillips told the court.

He’s been convicted 74 times for theft.

Within six days of being released from a federal penitentiary last August, Jackson committed the Canadian Tire theft.

“It’s highly unlikely Jackson will be able to stop stealing things,” Phillips said.

Defence lawyer Kelly Labine noted her client had a traumatic childhood and attended residential school, where he was abused.

At the age of nine, Jackson was sexually assaulted.

When he reported it to a supervisor, he was ignored and punished.

Throughout his life, he abused drugs and alcohol.

“Drug addiction took over his life,” Labine said, adding that Jackson overdosed seven times on heroin and five on cocaine.

In 2012, he started meeting with a residential school counsellor.

“He understands the abuse he suffered is not his fault,” Labine said.

“He learned how it continues to affect him.”

He completed numerous programs dealing with substance abuse while in jail.

The Sept. 2 offence came about because Jackson was released from a federal penitentiary and was left on his own, she said.

“There was no plan, he had no money, no place to stay.”

He went to Canadian Tire to later resell stolen goods to afford a place to stay, his defence lawyer said.

The defence is asking for a three-month sentence, with two years’ probation.

The Crown is seeking a one-year sentence in custody.

Because Jackson was released while on parole, the time he spent on custody between his arrest and his sentencing won’t be credited to his sentence.

Labine pointed out that her client did recognize his actions were wrong and wrote an apology letter to the store.

A number of support workers from the Champagne-Aishihik First Nation (CAFN) were in the gallery and addressed the court.

Unlike the last time around, this time there is a plan for Jackson when he is released from custody, they told the judge.

That includes a month-long healing camp at Jackson Lake to deal with his addictions.

“Your client has done a lot of aboriginal-based programs,” Cozens told the defence, noting it had little effect in slowing down his crimes.

Cozens also noted Judge Karen Ruddy and himself had already sentenced Jackson previously. Similar information about Jackson’s background was already known to the court, the judge added.

Cozens noted that the healing camp itself isn’t sufficient, as Jackson could re-offend as soon as he was finished there.

A CAFN representative, on top of a residential school counsellor, an AA counsellor and a case management counsellor would all look after him, the defence answered.

“Knowing how I sentence... in the absence of a viable plan, we’re left with no choice,” said Cozens.

He also noted Jackson needed an income source.

That plan is not viable, especially for housing, the Crown said.

The only alternative is a lengthy period of incarceration.

Jackson himself addressed the court.

He talked about his two children, who he said he had let down on more than one occasion.

Cozens adjourned the case to Feb. 17.