Three people accused of involvement in a theft ring in the Forfar area appeared in Athabasca Provincial Court via closed-circuit television (CCTV) Aug. 26.
The number of charges against Kevin Dwayne Stubley, 37; Travis Neil Faragher, 27; Joshua Alan Holmes, 28; and Maighdline Kinsella-Fortin, 38, who allegedly committed thefts in and around Athabasca County for more than seven years, stood at 108 according to Crown prosecutor J. Morrison at a previous appearance.
Last Monday, Kinsella-Fortin and Faragher appeared via CCTV from Fort Saskatchewan Correctional Centre; Holmes appeared via CCTV from Edmonton Remand Centre. Stubley was released July 18 on $5,000 cash bail and did not appear Monday.
A two-day preliminary inquiry was set for June 4-5, 2014, for all of the co-accused.
All of the accused will appear Oct. 28 to speak to their charges and set a pre-trial conference date.
Faragher will also reappear Sept. 23. His bail is still denied.
Each of the accused in the group arrested May 28 in the Forfar area has a myriad of charges against them. If the accused are found guilty of charges of possession of stolen property over $5,000, they could be sentenced to up to 10 years in jail.
They also each face multiple counts of possession of stolen property under $5,000, an indictable offence carrying a prison sentence of up to two years in jail.
Other charges against the group include possession of a break-in instrument, unauthorized possession of a firearm, careless use of a firearm and possession of a restricted or loaded firearm with ammunition.
Holmes later returned to the courtroom via CCTV for a bail hearing last Monday.
He was denied bail and remains in custody.
One of those accused in connection with a suspected Perryvale-area theft ring had matters spoken to on Aug. 26 in Athabasca Provincial Court.
Andrew Dwayne Lysohirka, 21, had already pleaded not guilty on Aug. 6 to theft-ring related charges, electing for trial with a provincial court judge without a jury. The matter was set for trial on Feb. 3, 2014.
On Aug. 26, Lysohirka faced charges of taking a motor vehicle without consent and possession of property obtained by crime.
He will reappear in Athabasca Provincial Court Dec. 2 for trial on those charges. The Crown anticipates five witnesses and asked Judge Vaughn Myers for a half day.
Lysohirka appeared from Fort Saskatchewan Correctional Centre with bail denied and stood co-accused with Dallas George Minsky.
However, the Crown stated last Monday the co-accused would have their cases severed and would be charged individually.
Minsky stands accused of taking a motor vehicle without consent on July 5 and twice occupying a motor vehicle without consent between July 1 and July 9; a third charge of occupying a motor vehicle without consent was alleged to have taken place between Sept. 19, 2012, and July 9.
Minsky is also charged with possession of property obtained by crime, an offence committed between Sept. 19, 2012, and July 9.
He has elected for trial before a provincial court judge. His trial is set for Jan. 7, 2014.
Gary William Fornahl-Bogden, 29, was arrested along with Andrew Lysohirka and Kristie Lee Zehner June 24 in connection with an alleged theft ring in the Perryvale area.
Fornahl-Bogden remains in the Edmonton Remand Centre and reserved his plea last Monday until Sept. 9 to consult with a lawyer.
Andrew’s elder brother, Robert William Lysohirka, 24, was arrested July 4 in Rochester on charges including possession of stolen property and flight from police.
Robert appeared last Monday via CCTV from Fort Saskatchewan Correctional Centre. His matters were adjourned to Sept. 9 so he can consult with a lawyer.
Duane Henry Stadnek, 48, of Saskatchewan faces charges of armed robbery and possession of a weapon dangerous to the public peace.
His matters were spoken to in Athabasca Provincial Court last Monday and were put over for two weeks until Sept. 9 while he completes a treatment program in Saskatchewan.
He allegedly committed an armed robbery at Value Drug Mart on July 31.
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 in the incident.
Matthew Logan Boreen, 28, appeared via CCTV facing numerous vehicular, weapon and stolen property-related charges. He was arrested July 4 in Rochester at the same time as Robert Lysohirka.
Some of the charges against Boreen include theft over $5,000, operating a motor vehicle while disqualified, operating an unregistered motor vehicle, displaying an unauthorized license plate, and driving with no insurance.
He will require a full day for trial, which Myers set for March 3, 2014.
His trial will address 12 counts of possession of property obtained by crime, any of which could land him in jail for up to 10 years.
His trial will also address a separate driving with no insurance charge, driving a motor vehicle while unauthorized to drive, careless use of a firearm, and possession of a firearm knowing its possession is unauthorized.
James Paul Nipshank, 46, appeared last Monday via CCTV from the Edmonton Remand Centre.
Nipshank pleaded guilty to theft under $5,000 committed June 11 and two separate counts of failure to comply with an undertaking committed June 15, 2013.
The Crown suggested at least 30–35 days in custody, citing a lengthy criminal record.
Myers sentenced Nipshank to 21 days time served and waived the victim surcharge.
Thomas Riley Cardinal, 29, pleaded guilty last week to a breach of condition of recognizance committed June 16.
The accused also pleaded guilty to “failure to attend/appear/comply” committed Aug. 27, 2012, as well as a failure to comply charge committed on Feb. 11.
Cardinal will serve a total of 45 days in jail.
