WESTLOCK – One of two men involved in the brazen daytime theft of two trucks off the lot of a Barrhead dealership in June 2022, faces nearly a nine-month jail sentence, half of which has been deemed served, along with a three-year driving ban.
Appearing in Westlock Court of Justice May 31 via CCTV from the Red Deer Remand Centre, Mathew Joseph Duda, 35, pleaded guilty to theft of a motor vehicle, operating a motor vehicle while prohibited, dangerous operation of a motor vehicle and failing to comply with release order conditions — Crown prosecutor Andrew Dirgo withdrew two additional charges of theft of a motor vehicle, along with single counts of possession of stolen property over $5,000, robbery and failing to comply with release order conditions.
Justice Gordon Putnam settled on a 270-day jail sentence for Duda, as Dirgo noted he had a “recent and related” criminal record that included multiple flight from police and driving while disqualified convictions and had asked for a 360-day jail sentence. Defence lawyer Gary Smith, who noted his client struggles with “addictions issues” that were most-recently triggered by the loss of his mother to cancer, had sought 210 days behind bars.
Justice Putnam, who gave Duda credit for 135 days of time served and waived the victim-fine surcharge, wished the man well, noting he’s been able to steer clear of the justice system for years at a time. Duda, who lives near Caroline, was also banned from driving for three years and will pay $1,000 in restitution to one of the victims to cover his insurance deductible.
“You have the ability to stay away from our system at times and have had three or four timeframes where you seem to be able to stay clean and that’s obviously preferred by the community and you as well. Somehow, you’re going to have to get a handle on that so that you don’t have to visit us again,” said Justice Putnam. “I wish you luck sir, I really do.”
The crime
Court heard that around 10:18 a.m., June 18, 2022, Barrhead RCMP received a report from a man whose 2004 Ford F-350 had just been stolen and he told them the suspects were driving a white Ford F-150.
A few hours later, RCMP got a call from Grizzly Trail Motors that two vehicles had been stolen. There, the men had gone into the dealership and stolen vehicle keys and told the salesman that they wanted him to appraise their F-150, a vehicle police later learned had been stolen from Edmonton.
On the lot, the two then tried the keys on multiple vehicles and each were able to steal a truck — Duda managed to get away with a red 2022 GMC Sierra.
Using OnStar, police were able to track down the stolen Sierra to Highway 33 near Highway 43 and disabled it. Meanwhile, the F-350 was eventually recovered on Township Road 613 near Highway 769.
“The driver of the red GMC then exited the vehicle with a piece of two-by-four wood and was holding it like a baseball bat and attempted to stop another vehicle driving past,” said Dirgo.
Police on scene arrested Duda and during a search of the truck they found “a small quantity of fentanyl”, a knife and cheques belonging to Grizzly Trail Motors.
