Law360 Canada ( March 21, 2025, 8:23 AM EDT) -- Sentencing of Balasooriyan for possession of stolen property exceeding $5000, attempted abduction of a minor below 14 years, mischief and criminal harassment and breach of release order. Balasooriyan stole a car valued between $6000 and $9000 from a repair shop. When arrested, police found cannabis, a pocketknife, and other items in the vehicle. On the same day, he attempted to abduct a 12-year-old girl from a public park by engaging her in conversation and trying to lure her to his car with the promise of listening to music. She refused and called the police, feeling scared and threatened. Balasooriyan's actions also caused her to fear for her safety and interrupted her lawful enjoyment of the park. At the time of the offences, he was on release for domestic assault and had a criminal record with 20 convictions from 2003 to 2012. On the day of the sentencing hearing, he pleaded guilty to breaching his release order. The defense argued for a conditional sentence order, proposing a total of 179 days to avoid immigration issues, with specific terms for each offense. They also sought a stay of the mischief count. The Crown opposed a conditional sentence, arguing for a total of 480 days, asserting that reducing the sentence to avoid immigration issues would be unfit. Both parties agreed on reducing the sentence by the presentence custody served, the necessity of probation, a DNA order, and a mandatory s. 109 order. The Crown also sought a s. 161 order, which the defense contested....