WESTLOCK – A North Buck Lake area man who rolled a stolen truck back in 2019, received what a provincial court judge called a “novel” six-month jail sentence, time deemed served as part of strict, 24-a-day bail conditions he’s been under since 2020.
In Westlock Provincial Court Dec. 7, Zane Curtis Bronson, 36, pleaded guilty to two charges of possession of stolen property over $5,000 and single counts of possession of stolen property under $5,000 and operating a motor vehicle while prohibited, while two counts each of possession of stolen property under $5,000 and operating a motor vehicle while prohibited charges, four counts of possession of a prohibited firearm and a single charges of possession of a controlled substance were withdrawn by Crown prosecutor Brett Grierson.
Judge Jacqueline Schaffter called the joint-sentence submission from Grierson and defence lawyer Lonnie Allen “novel” but agreed to sentence Bronson to six months in jail, time deemed served by the strict 24-a-hour-day “house arrest” bail conditions he’s been following for two years, eight months and 17 days — he was given half-a-day credit for each day he’s been under the order. Schaffter also fined Bronson $2,000, payable by May 31, 2023, but waived the victim-fine surcharges due to “his personal circumstances.”
“Joint submissions are important to moving matters forward and resolving matters and we do depend on them as officers of the court to negotiate and work out a fair and appropriate settlement,” said Judge Schaffter. “I don’t believe that in this case it’s an unfair resolution to the community. And certainly, a six-month sentence is not unreasonable in the circumstances.”
Grierson called Bronson’s criminal record “terrible” and said it was “recent, related and there have been substantial jail sentences given to this individual for the same offences.” But he said there were “hidden” mitigating factors and “significant triable issues” which led to him agreeing to the joint sentence.
Allen cited a “plethora of case law” and provided the Crown with nine cases while explaining the sentence to the judge and called it “fit and appropriate” although he admitted Bronson knew “he was getting a break today.” Allen said Bronson, who owns a metal salvage company, is a father of four and is the primary caregiver to a four-year-old boy who “has significant health issues” as his mother is “in and out of Alberta Hospital.”
“Ultimately if Mr. Bronson was to go into custody this boy would go into government care and I understand he’s quite fragile,” said Allen. “Mr. Bronson had a significant drug and alcohol issues growing up and his record absolutely reflects that. He concedes it and it’s unenviable. This is an individual who has struggled with opioid addictions, methamphetamine addictions and alcohol addictions. However, he’s indicted to me that following this accident he was in intensive trauma and suffered significant injuries and has been clean and sober since. I do commend him for that.”
The crime
Court heard that on Sept. 11, 2019, Westlock RCMP were called to a serious rollover on Highway 663 and Range Road 260, 50 kilometres northeast of the Town of Westlock.
Grierson said a stolen Dodge Ram pickup truck sustained “heavy damage” while Bronson was seriously injured and had been ejected from the vehicle.
“He’s indicted to me this was a life and death situation and was an eye opener,” said Allen recalling the crash.
Police learned that the truck had been stolen the day before, while Bronson had been under a three-year driving ban issued in 2017. Grierson noted that two dirt bikes in the box of the truck and recovered at the scene of the crash, a 2014 KTM 450 SFX and a 2007 Kawasaki KX 450F, were also stolen.
