Riley McPhee incessantly called and texted her parents, dozens and dozens and dozens of times, asking for money to fuel her drug addiction.
Her actions in June and July of last year put her father in danger, a judge heard Thursday when she appeared, via video, in a Sault Ste. Marie courtroom.
The phone calls impacted his access to Lifeline, a medical alert system for seniors and persons with disabilities.
They "rendered the Lifeline useless," prosecutor Trent Wilson said.
McPhee, 27, pleaded guilty to 14 charges, including three counts of criminal harassment, for offences that occurred between April 2018 and last October.
Ontario Court Justice Heather Mendes heard the accused was placed on an undertaking on June 20, 2022 with a condition that she not communicate with her parents.
Seven days later, they called police because she was contacting them again, the assistant Crown attorney said.
Between June 23 and June 25, they received 263 messages, and this communication didn't include the phone calls, he said.
Prior to that, on June 11, her mother received 53 calls in 30 minutes.
McPhee also was constantly texting her mother's cell phone, forcing her to block her daughter's messaging.
From June 13 to June 19, her parents received numerous phone calls, and McPhee was told many times about the effect this had on Lifeline.
"She continued to call and when she was blocked used other methods [to contact them],” Wilson said.
McPhee also pleaded guilty to two counts of fraud for purchases — an $800 computer and a $250 phone — she made online with fake e-line transfers in May of 2021.
As well, she was convicted of theft for stealing $377 worth of merchandise from Rome's and assaulting a security guard on May 20, 2018.
The remainder of the offences included counts of breaching orders, failing to attend court and mischief.
In a heart-breaking victim impact statement she read to the court, McPhee's mother detailed how they lost their "very much loved only child" to drugs when she was a teenager.
This has been going on for 11 years and "I continue to seek help for her," she said.
Riley's "bad choices" and behaviour have made her parents a target of "many of her dangerous accomplices" who came knocking at their door with their daughter to try to collect drug debts.
"She would show up at any time wanting money," her mom said, telling Mendes she often had to call police to get rid of them.
The self-described "mother of a heavily addicted child" also outlined the substantial financial and emotional toll, along with the fear and anxiety, her actions have had on them.
"Our inclination always was to help her,” she said. “We tried everything we can think of to help our daughter.”
Even though Riley was charged with harassment, it took “the breaches to make her stop,” her mother said.
"A lot of damage has been done," she told Mendes.
"We love her unconditionally but we can no longer deal with her behaviour as an addict. Please help our daughter any way you can."
The Crown and defence lawyer Eric McCooeye jointly recommended that his client, who has no prior criminal record, receive a "'rehabilitative" suspended sentence, and be placed on probation for two years.
McPhee "put her parents through hell," and it's time she took control of her life, Wilson said.
The court is dealing with someone who is addicted to drugs and "who's not a little girl anymore," he told Mendes.
"If she doesn't get straight, and is back before us she won't get the same consideration," he warned.
McCooeye said her last substantive offence occurred a year ago, in July of 2022, and McPhee "has been working hard since then."
She has participated in clinics, and relapse programs. But what has had a real impact on her is an individual she has met, who is not involved in the drug sub-culture, and supports and helps her, McCooeye said.
McPhee has asked me numerous times what she can do, he told the court.
"She knows she needs to change her life," and a "rehabilitative sentence is appropriate," the defence said.
"She understands falling off track would lead to another type of sentence."
When asked if she had anything to say to the court, McPhee responded: "I think that"s about it."
When she imposed sentence, Mendes said this "certainly calls out for a rehabilitatve sentence.”
The judge told McPhee that the fact that she has remained without a substantive charge for a year shows "you are committed to making changes in your life."
Noting her substance abuse struggles, Mendes added "you've certainly put them [your parents] through difficult times."
During her two-year probation, McPhee must take any recommended assessment, counselling and rehabilitation programs for substance abuse and mental health issues.
She is to have no contact with her parents without their written, revocable permission, which can be withdrawn at any time.
As well, McPhee must not be within 100 metres of them and must stay away from Rome's.
Mendes also imposed a stand-alone restitution order, requiring her to pay $800 and $250 to the victims of her frauds.
McPhee is prohibited from possessing weapons for 10 years and must provide a DNA sample for the national registry.