Two Canadian citizens have pleaded guilty to their roles in trying to smuggle an illegal Mexican immigrant into Canada so he could be reunited with his young son.
Cynthia Martinez-Jurado and Matias Can both admitted to charges of aiding and abetting Tuesday and were given $500 fines and permanent criminal records.
Martinez-Jurado is a single mother who was living in Winnipeg and desperately wanted to bring the father of her four-year-old son into the country. She enlisted the help of Can, a long-time family friend who lives in Ontario, court was told.
The pair drove to Montana, where the baby’s father was living illegally. The trio then drove to the Canada-U.S. border, dropped the man off on the North Dakota side and picked him up on the Manitoba side after he snuck into the country on foot.
Police arrested all three last summer after conducting surveillance and spotting their "suspicious" vehicle sitting in the Winkler-area for a lengthy period of time, court was told. Martinez-Jurado and Can were both charged and released on bail, while the woman’s illegal boyfriend was quickly deported back to Mexico.
"I’m really sorry for what I did. I’m sure as a woman you understand what I did. I wanted nothing else but to have my family together," a tearful Martinez-Jurado told provincial court Judge Judith Elliott.
Can said he couldn’t refuse the request from Martinez-Jurado, even though he knew what he was doing was illegal.
"As a Christian, I couldn’t leave anyone alone if they asked for help. The Bible says," he told Elliott. "Please forgive me. I believe this was a big mistake."
Crown attorney Stephen Christie was seeking a $5,000 fine but no custody for both accused. The maximum penalty allowed by law is six months in jail and/or a $10,000 fine. Defence lawyer David Matas told court both Martinez-Jurado and Can are in dire financial straits and can’t afford to pay much.
"(Martinez-Jurado) was trying to act, mistakenly, in the best interests of her child," said Matas, noting the woman has since severed her relationship with her boyfriend. "And (Cab) knew it was wrong, he’s learned his lesson, he’s not going to do it again."
Martinez-Jurado and Can had no prior criminal records but will now likely have a difficult time travelling outside of Canada because of their convictions.
Pair pleads guilty to trying to smuggle in tot's dad
TWO Canadian citizens have pleaded guilty to trying to smuggle a Mexican man into Canada so he could be reunited with his young son.
Cynthia Martinez-Jurado and Matias Can both admitted to charges of aiding and abetting Tuesday and were given $500 fines and permanent criminal records.
Martinez-Jurado is a single mother who was living in Winnipeg and desperately wanted to bring the father of her four-year-old boy into the country. She enlisted the help of Can, a long-time family friend who lives in Ontario, court was told.
The pair drove to Montana, where the boy's father was living illegally. The trio then drove to the Canada-U.S. border, dropped the man off on the North Dakota side and picked him up on the Manitoba side near the tiny hamlet of Haskett after he snuck into the country on foot.
Police arrested all three last summer after conducting surveillance and spotting their "suspicious" vehicle in the Winkler-area, court was told. Martinez-Jurado and Can were charged and released on bail, while the woman's illegal boyfriend was deported back to Mexico.
"I'm really sorry for what I did. I'm sure as a woman you understand what I did. I wanted nothing else but to have my family together," a tearful Martinez-Jurado told provincial court Judge Judith Elliott.
Can said he couldn't refuse the request from Martinez-Jurado, even though he knew it was illegal.
Crown attorney Stephen Christie sought a $5,000 fine but no custody for either accused. Defence lawyer David Matas told court Martinez-Jurado and Can are in dire financial straits and can't afford to pay much.
Martinez-Jurado and Can had no prior criminal records but will now likely have a difficult time travelling outside of Canada because of their convictions.
Pair pleads guilty to trying to smuggle in tot's dad
TWO Canadian citizens have pleaded guilty to trying to smuggle a Mexican man into Canada so he could be reunited with his young son.
Cynthia Martinez-Jurado and Matias Can both admitted to charges of aiding and abetting Tuesday and were given $500 fines and permanent criminal records.
Martinez-Jurado is a single mother who was living in Winnipeg and desperately wanted to bring the father of her four-year-old boy into the country. She enlisted the help of Can, a long-time family friend who lives in Ontario, court was told.
The pair drove to Montana, where the boy's father was living illegally. The trio then drove to the Canada-U.S. border, dropped the man off on the North Dakota side and picked him up on the Manitoba side near the tiny hamlet of Haskett after he snuck into the country on foot.
Police arrested all three last summer after conducting surveillance and spotting their "suspicious" vehicle in the Winkler-area, court was told. Martinez-Jurado and Can were charged and released on bail, while the woman's illegal boyfriend was deported back to Mexico.
"I'm really sorry for what I did. I'm sure as a woman you understand what I did. I wanted nothing else but to have my family together," a tearful Martinez-Jurado told provincial court Judge Judith Elliott.
Can said he couldn't refuse the request from Martinez-Jurado, even though he knew it was illegal.
Crown attorney Stephen Christie sought a $5,000 fine but no custody for either accused. Defence lawyer David Matas told court Martinez-Jurado and Can are in dire financial straits and can't afford to pay much.
Martinez-Jurado and Can had no prior criminal records but will now likely have a difficult time travelling outside of Canada because of their convictions.
These individuals should have been granted an absolute discharge, where they would have no conviction and no record recorded. I completely understand why they did what they did. I am sympathetic to the woman's situation where she just wants her family to be together. A criminal record will only further limit her chances of ever seeing her boyfriend, as he is back in Mexico. I feel sorry for the family.
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