A warrant for the arrest of one of four men charged in a high-profile theft and shooting on a Tees farm in late March 2009 has spread outside the province of Alberta.
Appearing in Stettler Provincial Court for trial on Dec. 21, Kyle Rosenthal, 23, of Alix was rescheduled for trial to June 22, 2010 after Harold Groening, 31, of Mirror, another suspect in the case and a key witness in Rosenthal’s trial, failed to appear in court for the second time in less than one month.
Judge E.D. Riemer granted the request from the Crown prosecutor to adjourn the trial.
A warrant for the arrest of Groening was recently extended outside Alberta since the warrant was initially issued by Judge Jim Mitchell after the accused failed to appear for trial on Dec. 8 to face charges of theft under $5,000, theft over $5,000 and possession of stolen property.
“This is a very serious matter,” said Rosenthal’s lawyer, Robert De Vries.
“We are not opposed to the adjournment,”
“We would oppose further adjournment on that date (June 2010).”
This is 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.
For the incident on March 25 and 26, 2009, Knight 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 thefts.
In other cases, Chase Louis Currier, 18, was placed on probation for one year for mischief under $5,000 after he damaged a Lincoln Continental car while arguing with a friend in Spruce Close, Stettler on Feb. 22 from 1 to 2 a.m.
Intoxicated at the time of the incident, he was also ordered to pay restitution for $250 damage.
“It shows a lack of self-control,” said Judge E. D. Riemer.
On probation, Currier is required to abstain from alcohol and street drugs and complete alcohol and drug counseling and treatment.
Rooster Roadhouse restaurant of Clive was fined $300 for violation of the noise bylaw of the Village of Clive on May 22 following a report by a neighbour that the music band was playing too loud.
Pleading guilty, the owner has made improvements to reduce the noise.