Blanca Velasco pleaded guilty to three charges incurred due to skipping out on bar tabs, including one incident where she allegedly faked a seizure to avoid paying.

She was then sentenced to three consecutive sentences of 21 days for each separate incident—a total of 63 days minus time already served—during Whitecourt Provincial Court on Dec. 12.

Crown attorney Phil Lefeuvre said Velasco incurred a $1,575 tab purchasing alcohol at an establishment. She then appeared to have a seizure but a doctor later stated that one did not occur.

"She does have a lengthy record," Lefeuvre added.

Defence attorney Crystal McMahon said the facts were admitted and submitted a guilty plea on behalf of Velasco.

McMahon explained that Velasco is currently unemployed, on social assistance and living in Grande Prairie. She added that Velasco is also suffering from a number of afflictions, such as PTSD and alcoholism.

However, presiding Judge John Higgerty said these kinds of offences take money from waiting staff.

"I take a very dim view of these things," Higgerty said. "That could be a number of hours of their wage disappear(ing) when she walks out that door."

pshokeir@postmedia.com



Twitter: @PeterShokeir