Theft, Robbery, Fraud, Mischief, Prostitution and Gambling OffencesLaw 120

Offences Against Property

Theft

1. Do you agree with the sentence in this case? Explain.Students supporting the sentence may suggest• the people involved were adults who were not being forced intoprostitution and so there was no real harm being done• since prostitution is not illegal then the sentence itself seemsreasonableStudents opposing the sentence may suggest• prostitution is a negative influence on society since it is oftenassociated with drugs and corruption• a light sentence does nothing to deter agencies that are running illegalservices2. The Judge noted that the relationship between Manion and theescorts was not “parasitical.” What does this mean? Why wouldthis make a difference in determining the sentence?The relationship was not “parasitical” means that the escorts working forManion were not being taken advantage of or being forced intoprostitution. They were freely choosing to work for the agency and theagency charged a fee for arranging meetings with clients. This wasimportant in determining the sentence since there were no threats orcoercion being used to force the escort into prostitution.

1. List four ways mischief could be committed in relation to data.Four ways in which mischief can be committed in relationship to data are:(i) destroying data; (ii) rendering data useless; (iii) interfering with thelawful use of data; (iv) interfering with any person in the lawful use ofdata.2. Regarding the offence of “mischief endangering life,” is itnecessary for actual harm to materialize? Discuss.No, it is not necessary for the actual harm to materialize. The importantaspect of the offence of mischief endangering life is that the actual actitself has been committed.3. Provide an example of public mischief not found in this chapter.Examples of public mischief• a woman phones a crime tip line and claims that her ex-husband is thebank robber they are looking for, when she knows that he is not• someone repeatedly calls 9-1-1 when there is no emergency• someone claims to have witnessed a crime or an accident when in factthey did not

4. What must the Crown prove to convict a person of fraud?To convict a person of fraud the Crown must prove that the accusedpurposely intended to deceive someone in order to cause a loss ofproperty, money, or service.5. Give an example of each of three different types of fraud.Different types of fraud are• selling shares in a company that does not exist• forging trademarks (selling counterfeit luxury items like watches orhandbags)• giving a cheque for payment when there is not enough money in theaccount• tricking someone into signing a document for your benefit• using someone else’s credit card number to make purchases withoutpermission6. List three criminal offences related to prostitution.Three criminal offences related to prostitution are• soliciting• keeping a common bawdy house• living off the avails of prostitution.7. Vladimir would be charged with keeping a common gaming house. Acommon gaming house is a place where people play various types ofgames, such as cards or dice, for money and the owner of the premiseskeeps a portion of the monies won.