Among the cases processed last week at Stettler Provincial Court were:
• Theresa Elizabeth Rain, charged with resisting a peace officer when being forcibly evicted from her home, was unable to attend Stettler provincial court last Thursday because she didn’t have transportation and an agent acting on her behalf. She asked that her plea be reserved until March 13.
• James Robert Gutierrez, held in custody on other matters, pleaded not guilty to break and enter to a home, possession of stolen property, and failing to appear in court. A trial is set for Aug. 28 at 1:30 p.m. in Stettler provincial court.
• Appearing in court Stettler provincial court Feb. 13, Jennifer Lea Pruissen stood dressed in all black, chewing gum, and pleaded not guilty to breaking into a Bashaw bottle depot. She elected to be tried by judge alone.
A two-hour preliminary hearing is set for Sept. 11 at 1:30. She is charged with two counts of robbery, use of a firearm, and use of imitation firearm. Last month, she was released from the Red Deer Remand Centre on $500 cash bail.
• Douglas Wayne Slemp pleaded not guilty to four counts of failing to comply with conditions, driving while suspended, and driving without insurance. A one-hour trial is set for Sept. 11 for failing to comply and driving with no insurance. Another trial before a different judge is set for Oct. 9 for driving while suspended.
• Mark Steven Sawatzky pleaded not guilty to impaired driving and driving while over .08. A trial date is slated to be set Feb. 27.
• Chad James Whiteside pleaded not guilty to two counts of assault and a three-hour trial was set for Nov. 13.
• David Yaroslawsky, charged with failing to remain at the scene, failing to attend court, impaired driving, driving while over .08, and two counts of failing to attend court, is set to reappear March 27.
• Christopher G. York pleaded not guilty to assault and failing to comply with conditions. A trial date will be set on Feb. 27.
• Dallas Catlin Tudor pleaded not guilty to impaired and driving over .08. A trial date is to be set Feb. 27.
• Frederick H. Blanchard pleaded guilty to possessing prohibited weapons.
The court heard that on Aug. 2, 2013, police were called to a domestic altercation in Bashaw. When police arrived, his common-law wife pointed out to the police two long gun rifles in the residence. Crown prosecutor Murray MacPherson said the partner’s son, who had left them there for convenience to use for hunting purposes, owned the guns, a 307 Weatherly and a .22 Savage. The guns weren’t loaded and weren’t used, only stored.
MacPherson told the court it was a “technical violation” and the guns weren’t stored properly, adding that he recommended a $500 fine and not incarceration.
“The facts don’t justify (incarceration),” said MacPherson.
“I didn’t think it would affect me, but obviously it did,” Blanchard told the court.
Judge G. Yakes fined him $500.
• Justin Tyrone Wynott of Alix pleaded not guilty to breach of conditions, impaired operation of a vehicle, and possession of stolen property. A trial is set for March 13 in Stettler provincial court.
• Barry Jules Jones, charged with assault, reserved his plea until Feb. 27.
• Alexander John Walker pleaded guilty to impaired driving, driving while over .08, threats to cause death, theft of a vehicle, mischief, and driving without insurance. Sentencing will be at a later date.
• Jordan Kyle Lavallee pleaded not guilty to assaulting a peace officer, three counts of failing to comply with an undertaking, and possession of a controlled substance. A two-hour trial was set for Nov. 27, where Lavallee plans to represent himself.
“That will give you lots of time to hire a lawyer, if you need to,” Judge Yakes told the defendant.
• Before a trial could proceed for Jay Richard Ruttan, charged with impaired driving, and driving while over .08, the Crown asked the court for proof of service.
• Forrest Jack Wilfong, appearing via closed-captioned TV from Red Deer Remand Centre, reserved his plea until Feb. 27 for two charges of threat to cause death, assaulting a peace officer, two counts of assault, and failing to appear in court.
A trial date is expected to be set on Feb. 27.
• Wayne Selwyn Morgan appeared in the prisoner’s box in Stettler provincial court charged with assault, and two counts of breach of probation. He reappears Feb. 27 to enter a plea.
• A trial for Russell P. Simpson was set for Sept. 25 at 1:30. He is charged with theft under $5,000, impaired driving, driving while over .08, and two counts of failing to comply with an undertaking.
• Derek Lee Draganiuk, appearing via closed circuit TV from the Red Deer Remand Centre on other charges, told the court that he would like to appear in person at his next court date March 27.
He is charged with break and entering (not a dwelling), and three counts of failing to comply with conditions.
He’s slated to appear in Rimbey court March 3 and Lloydminster court March 20.
• Jesse Otto Standage is expected back in court on March 13 to enter a plea to charges of refusing/failing a demand and assault of a peace officer.
• Jeffrey G. Skaley, charged with failing to comply, reserved his plea until March 13