A Stettler man is learning that not taking the conditions of release seriously while awaiting trial comes with consequences, as on July 11, he was sent back to jail and will be there until at least Aug. 12.
Dylan Edward Zimmer, who was arrested last year, has since been charged with five counts of failing to comply with conditions, two counts of failing to comply with undertakings, and one count of obstructing/resisting a peace officer, stemming from a series of events in the past months.
He appeared, in shackles, at the Alberta Provincial Court in Stettler on July 11. Crown Prosecutor John Baharustani said that since the accused had allegedly violated his conditions so many times, in light of the most recent incidents, he would have to prove he deserves a chance at bail, a process called reverse onus.
Baharustani went through the alleged violations that caused Zimmer to be back in court, including an incident when police stated he wasn’t at home after the court-imposed curfew.
A constable from the Stettler RCMP checked at the accused home on June 30, Baharustani noted, and the mother of the accused advised the constable he was not home. A short time later, the constable received a phone call from Zimmer, who allegedly informed the constable he had been at home doing laundry, and his mother had not realized it.
An hour later the constable came to Zimmer’s home to do another check, and his mother again said he was not home. At this time, the constable entered the residence and checked the laundry room, and noted the washer was dry and the dryer was cold.
Police checked again on July 1, during curfew period, and the accused was not home. Zimmer turned himself in to police on July 6, and the laundry excuse earned him a charge of obstructing a peace officer.
The accused shows “a consistent pattern of breaching his conditions,” Baharustani told the courts. “The pattern of repeated breaches...shows disregard for the Stettler RCMP.”
Baharustani said the lack of respect shown for local police is a significant factor in the Crown asking bail on the previous charges be revoked, and part of why it was contesting the current request for bail on new charges.
The accused pleaded guilty earlier in the year to the charges that caused the conditions, with his sentencing scheduled for Aug. 12.
Though the counsel for the accused told the Court that the time in jail waiting for the hearing on July 11 had been a “slap to the head,” Judge Reimer decided in the end to revoke bail, citing the repeated disregard for conditions, and the attempts to evade being caught disobeying his conditions, as cause.
Zimmer’s next court date will see his sentencing on Aug. 12.