Charges against two of the three persons arrested June 24 in the Perryvale area in connection with a suspected theft ring were addressed last week in Athabasca Provincial Court.
Gary William Fornahl-Bogden, 29, faces charges of possession of an illicit substance and possession of a prohibited weapon, as well as possession of stolen property.
He addressed those charges in court on July 2, and his election and plea were adjourned until July 22.
At the time of his arrest, Fornahl-Bogden was wanted on Canada-wide warrants out of Leduc for attempted murder, aggravated assault and possession of a weapon dangerous to the public, according to a June 27 news release from Athabasca RCMP Sgt. Brian Scott.
Those offences were all allegedly committed April 7 and led to charges for which he appeared in Leduc Provincial Court July 4. He will appear on July 11 for election and plea on those charges.
Andrew Dwayne Lysohirka, 21, has been charged with a number of stolen property offences and firearms offences. He is also accused of tampering with a vehicle identification number.
Lysohirka’s hearing was adjourned until July 9, at which time he will make his first appearance in Barrhead Provincial Court.
The third in the trio, Kristie Lee Zehner, 32, is scheduled to appear in provincial court July 22.
Forfar theft ring accused still in custody
Four persons charged in connection with a Forfar-based theft ring also appeared in Athabasca Provincial Court last Monday.
Each of the co-accused arrested May 28 — Kevin Dwayne Stubley, 37, Travis Neil Faragher, 27, Joshua Alan Holmes, 29, and Maighdlin Kinsella-Fortin, 38 — face dozens of theft-related charges, including possession of stolen property under and over $5,000.
Other charges against the group include unauthorized possession of a firearm and careless use of a firearm, as well as possession of a prohibited or restricted firearm with ammunition, which could carry a prison sentence of up to 10 years.
Additional related offences include possession of a firearm knowing its possession is unauthorized.
The accused also face charges of possession of a break-in instrument “suitable for the purpose of breaking into any place, motor vehicle, vault or safe under circumstances that give rise to a reasonable inference that the instrument has been used or is or was intended to be used for such a purpose,” according to section 351 (1) of the Criminal Code.
Kinsella-Fortin appeared via closed-circuit television (CCTV) from Edmonton Remand Centre and was denied bail. She is set to reappear on July 8 for election and plea.
Faragher appeared in person and was also denied bail. He will reappear July 8 for election and plea.
Stubley and Holmes are in custody at the Edmonton Remand Centre and appeared the same day via CCTV. They were denied bail, and hearings for the two were adjourned until July 8 for election and plea.
Stubley is scheduled for a bail review hearing at the Court of Queen’s Bench in Edmonton July 11.
Causing a disturbance in public
Three men pled guilty in separate appearances to one count each of causing a disturbance by being drunk in a public place.
They appeared via CCTV in Athabasca Provincial Court last Monday.
James Paul Nipshank, 46, Dallas Ned Cryer, 40, and Joseph Robillard, 54, were arrested by Athabasca RCMP June 23 at approximately 4 p.m. for being drunk in Athabasca’s riverfront park.
In his statement of facts, Crown prosecutor James Mahon said the three co-accused were found in the riverfront park surrounded by beer cans and mouthwash bottles.
Nipshank pled guilty to one count each of causing a disturbance by being drunk in a public place, failing to comply with conditions of undertaking, and failing to comply with conditions of undertaking or recognizance.
Co-accused Dallas Ned Cryer is a welder from Lac La Biche. The defence argued that he should receive lenience, saying his last offence was in 2009, but the Crown pointed out he had in fact generated a criminal record up until February of this year.
“I am an alcoholic,” responded Cryer when Judge L.E. Nemirsky asked if Cryer had anything to say prior to sentencing. “I’m trying to do my best, but alcohol gets in my way. I’m sorry for my stupidity.”
The three co-accused had already been detained for nine days, and accounting for the day of court appearance, Nemirsky sentenced each to 30 days minus 10 days served. Nipshank received 30 days for each of his three charges, to be served concurrently.
