Duane Henry Stadnek, 48, of Hudson Bay, Sask., appeared at the Athabasca Provincial Court sitting in Boyle last Monday via closed-circuit television (CCTV) from the Edmonton Remand Centre, charged with armed robbery and possession of a weapon dangerous to the public peace.
Though a $2,000 cash deposit was suggested by the defence, Judge C.D. Gardner released Stadnek on $3,000 cash bail. Stadnek will return to Saskatchewan where he will attend a detox program.
Stadnek allegedly committed an armed robbery at Value Drug Mart on July 31.
It is the first such crime the area has seen in “many, many years” according to Athabasca RCMP Sgt. Brian Scott.
Athabasca RCMP received a call at 2:51 p.m. that Wednesday. The caller said a man brandishing a knife had held up Value Drug Mart.
The suspect allegedly approached the customer service counter in Value Drug Mart, held a female employee at knifepoint and demanded a narcotic painkiller.
No one was hurt, but Crown prosecutor James Mahon referred to the “pharmacy crime” as a “serious incident.”
Gardner ordered Stadnek to abstain from drugs and alcohol and to reappear in court on Aug. 26 for election and plea.
Robin Michael Cardinal, 36, was back in court last Monday. He had already pled guilty by mail to arson causing bodily harm prior to his last court appearance May 6, and on Aug. 12 he was handed a suspended sentence and 12 months probation.
Judge Gardner said in court May 6 that a facts assessment would not be needed, but he would be ordering a pre-sentence report.
On Aug. 5, 2012, Athabasca RCMP were notified of a fire in Calling Lake. At least four witnesses were present and had seen the accused lighting a couch on fire in the residence.
According to Mahon, neighbours responded to the fire and attempted to put it out.
Cardinal received burns to his hands, and one of the witnesses received second-degree burns, according to information disclosed May 6.
Last Monday, it was revealed Cardinal had in fact caused third-degree burns to the injured witness.
Although Cardinal is a first-time offender with no prior criminal record, Mahon recommended a strong sentence due to the injuries caused and the fact that the victim would have to live with burns for the rest of their life.
Mahon suggested between 100 to 120 hours of community service.
The duty council representing Cardinal acknowledged alcohol was “a significant factor” in this case, but said Cardinal has had 15–20 appointments with a psychiatrist and is gainfully employed at present.
The defence said Cardinal was apologetic, and when asked if had anything to say, Cardinal expressed his regret for the incident for about two minutes, adding that he did not mean for the event to take place.
Letters of apology to the victims would also be appropriate, according to the defence, but after Cardinal said he had sought to make amends with at least one of the victims and had coffee with them to apologize, Gardner lifted the conditions of apology.
“I’m grateful to be alive,” said Cardinal. “Being in trouble with the law is something I never planned on.”
Gardner was handed photos of the damage caused. In making his ruling, the judge noted the unusual nature of setting fire to what he regarded as one’s own well-kept home.
“This, in my experience, is so out of the norm for this type of offence,” reflected Gardner. He said due to the severity of the crime, it would not be unreasonable to send Cardinal to jail even on a first-time offence.
However, while the arson caused bodily harm, Gardner said it is plausible Cardinal may not have been aware the victim was in the area.
Gardner decided Cardinal would not receive jail time but would instead receive a strict, 24-month suspended sentence during which he must keep the peace, be on good behaviour, report to the Athabasca RCMP detachment within seven days, abstain from alcohol and perform 100 hours of community service.
Gerald Lou Redford, 54, stood accused of mischief in relation to property under $5,000 in court last Monday.
On Nov. 28, 2012, Redford had been sleeping in a motor home owned by an Athabasca resident. After waking up cold and intoxicated, he decided to break into the dwelling of the resident, where Athabasca RCMP found him asleep holding a telephone.
The Crown noted Redford’s “previous substantial criminal record” and recommended 30 hours of community service and a restitution fee for damage caused to the resident’s door.
The defence acknowledged that alcohol was a precipitating factor but that Redford had since been through a three-month treatment program.
Gardner suspended Redford’s sentence and gave him 12 months probation. The judge ordered him to keep the peace and be on good behaviour, report to a probation officer in Athabasca within seven days and perform 30 hours of community service.
The victim surcharge was waived.
