Bradford thief to be released from prison

With his statutory release date set for about a month from now, convicted burglar Walter Viveiros had his sentencing time corrected on the docket in a Barrie court Monday. He will be out months earlier than expected due to the miscalculation of his custody credit prior to trial.

The 50-year-old Bradford man was found guilty of being part of a series of murders in Barrie, Innisfil, Bradford and the GTA that resulted in almost 200 charges against him and three other men.

Viveiros was convicted and sentenced to two years less a day last October, with credit for pretrial detention.

He pleaded guilty to multiple counts of breaking and entering local businesses and theft of property, including catalytic converters.

South Simcoe police said when the investigation began in 2022, investigators recovered more than $100,000 worth of stolen scrap metal, catalytic converters, steel and wire.

The crime, investigators said, consisted of break-ins into shops and commercial properties where several of these items were taken along with power tools, equipment and vehicles by a group of men who were all arrested.

Officers say they also recovered eight stolen vehicles, a minivan, a commercial dump truck, a forklift, chainsaws and several pressure washers.

According to court documents, two other men have settled their issues.

Earlier this year, Terrence Zerafa of Innisfil, one of Viveiros’ co-defendants, pleaded guilty to five counts of stealing power tools, burglarizing multiple businesses and stealing a 2006 Ford E-350 cargo van.

After his release, Viveiros was placed on probation for three years and ordered to pay restitution of approximately $6,000 and another $20,000 if convicted in civil court.

Terrence Zerafa outside court in Barrie, Ont., Wednesday, May. 29, 2024. (CTV News/Mike Arsalides)

Zerafa is scheduled to be sentenced on Wednesday.