A trial for a key witness and suspect in a high-profile farm theft in Tees last spring has been set for two months from now after he again failed to appear in court.
Harold T. Groening, 31, of Mirror, was scheduled to appear before Stettler Provincial Court on Thursday, Feb 11, but after his failure to appear for yet another time, Judge Jim Hunter set the date for his trial for April 22.
Currently working in Vancouver, British Columbia, Groening was ordered by Judge Jim Hunter last month to appear in person on Feb. 11, although Judge K. L. Rostad cancelled that order the week before last.
Groening faces two counts of theft under $5,000 and theft over $5,000 and possession of stolen property in connection with a the theft of a pick-up truck and an all-terrain vehicle quad with two other accused March 25 and 26, 2009 from a Tees-area farm owned by Brian Russell Knight, who is also charged for shooting at the three accused.
Groening was arrested and released after a warrant was issued on Dec. 21 when he was scheduled to appear for the trial of Kyle Rosenthal, 23, of Alix, who faces similar charges in the incident and was rescheduled to this June 22.
With six previous scheduled court appearances, Groening has also had two or three other lawyers on record, stated the Crown Counsel.
This was the second warrant issued to Groening, who was allegedly wounded with two shots from a shotgun.
He also failed to show for the preliminary hearing of Tees farmer Brian Russell Knight, 28 in November with the hearing set for June 17 in Stettler.
Knight, 38, faces charges of unlawful use of a firearm, pointing a firearm, possession of a dangerous weapon, assault with a weapon, criminal negligence causing injury, dangerous driving and unauthorized possession of a firearm.
Nick Dewald, 22, of Alix, was fined $400 in Stettler Provincial Court on Nov. 26 after pleading guilty to a charge of theft under $5,000 as one of three men charged in the incident.
In other cases, Jeffery Allen Harpell, 44, of Stettler was fined $600 for three counts of false pretenses and ordered to pay about $1,111 for writing three cheques to Stettler Home Hardware in November 2009 from a chequing account that was closed.
Misty Milne was fined $165 for two counts of failing to license a cat in the Town of Stettler under the dog and cat control bylaw.
John Bronk, 29, of Stettler was given a 18-month suspended sentence after pleading guilty to one count each of assault causing bodily harm and unlawful harassment for assaulting his spouse and for six counts of failing to apply with conditions when he breached an order to have no contact with the victim.
Steven Andrew Pochylko, 26 was handed a suspended sentence and placed on probation for two years for one count of driving with a blood-alcohol level over 80 milligrams with readings of 200 and 190 on March 8, 2009 and for leaving the scene of a vehicle collision when he drove from a ditch along Highway 601 and struck a vehicle passing by with one person suffering an injured shoulder.
“From evidence I have read, Mr. Pochylko is motivated to rehabilitate himself,” said Judge Rostad.
While suspended from driving for three years, the accused continues to take extensive treatment for alcohol abuse.
Christopher Fletcher was handed a nine-month conditional discharge for assault of a 16-year-old female on Oct. 1, 2009 and ordered to take treatment and counseling for anger management.