Disturbing accounts of a rash of crimes by Nanaimo's Jennifer Perusini locally in 2018 were revealed in provincial court in Nanaimo on Thursday, Aug. 29. (Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Ian Holmes

Disturbing crimes

Nanaimo woman awaits punishment for heinous local crime spree

Aug 29, 2019 | 4:36 PM

NANAIMO — A woman’s out of control drug habit fueling a disturbing string of break-ins all over Nanaimo were revealed during a tense sentencing hearing.

Jennifer Lynn Perusini’s destructive path involving the brazen thefts of thousands of dollars worth of valuables, including irreplacable items, were revealed Thursday, Aug. 29 in provincial court in Nanaimo.

The 36-year-old woman pleaded guilty to six residential break and enters in Nanaimo between June and December of 2018.

She also pleaded guilty to driving while prohibited.

16 other property and fraud related offences against Perusini were dropped by the Crown in exchange for guilty pleas.

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Perusini has no prior criminal history and became gripped by hard drugs, including cocaine, meth and heroin, court was told.

Crown prosecutor Basil McCormick said her most egregious offence involved a June 21, 2018 break-in to a Carol Pl. home located off Mostar Rd.

McCormick said Perusini gained access to the home by providing house cleaning work. He said the homeowner received a phone call explaining she needed to go to the hospital because her daughter was involved in an accident.

It was not proven Perusini made the diversionary phone call.

The story was a hoax and the woman rushed back home to find she had been robbed. Stolen items featured family heirlooms, Jewelry boxes and $3,500 cash.

The family dog was cut by what appeared to be a sharp object to its eye.

The dog required surgery as a result.

Perusini made off with a further $1,000 after stealing a debit card from the home and guessing right while entering the pin number.

Court was told Perusini made inroads with the impacted family after forming ties with the homeowner’s daughter.

Just over a month later Perusini broke into a Hammond Bay Rd. home where nearly $5,400 worth of valuables were removed from the lower and upper suites, including a $2,200 purse.

McCormick said a Nanaimo RCMP officer came across the valuable and unique purse listed for sale by Perusini on Nanaimo Kijiji.

The woman told NanaimoNewsNOW she’s still deeply affected by the ordeal.

“I’m traumatized, I live alone and I’m always afraid,” she said trembling with anger outside court.

Perusini broke into a man’s home who had a severe brain injury. Perusini was arrested two days after the break-in at the Beach Dr. home near the Departure Bay ferry terminal.

Six of the seven break-ins Perusini pleaded guilty to happened during broad daylight.

Most of the stolen goods were not recovered.

Local pawn shops assisted Nanaimo RCMP in building the case against Perusini, which included surveillance video.

She was pulled over by Nanaimo Mounties and taken into custody on Dec. 12, 2018.

The following day a search warrant at Perusini’s home turned up numerous stolen goods, break-in tools, fraudulent cheques, crystal meth and cocaine.

“It appears clear that she was in the grips of a fairly significant drug addiction,” McCormick said. “There’s no indication through the pre-sentence report or through the police that she sought treatment voluntarily,”

Perusini spent more than a month behind bars following her arrest.

In late January she was granted bail and assigned to a drug treatment facility in Coquitlam.

However, Perusini was kicked out of the program four months later after staff stated she failed to comply by its rules.

She was then transferred to a drug treatment program in Richmond, where she’s continued to receive treatment since June.

McCormick requested a two year prison sentence in a provincial penitentiary, followed by two years probation.

He said the Crown will request financial restitution based on Perusini’s ability to pay.

Bobby Movassaghi, Perusini’s lawyer, said his client’s downward spiral with drug use began with opiods and was related to the illnesses of her husband and mother.

He said Perusini’s father passed away in May of this year and “over-medicated herself” as a result.

He said Perusini has been sober for several months, suggesting no jail time and a maximum three-year probation term would be more productive.

“It serves a punitive purpose, while also being rehabilitative in allowing her to continue her progress,” Movassaghi said during his closing submissions.

A tearful Perusini addressed court by apologizing to everybody her actions impacted. She pledged to attain a drug-free life and become a positive role model to her daughter.

“I want to dedicate time to giving back to the community and a chance to make amends through action,” Perusini said while choking back tears while reading a prepared statement.

Judge Ted Gouge reserved his decision which is expected within the next few weeks.

ian@nanaimonewsnow.com
On Twitter: @reporterholmes