Judge reserves decision for woman seeking bail

A woman who’s back in custody after she didn’t show up in court to be sentenced for robbing a gas station last year hopes she’ll be released again, at least long enough to be with her young son when he has surgery Aug. 4.

Dawn Ila Hart had hoped to be released Thursday following a bail hearing in Lethbridge provincial court. But the judge reserved his decision until July 27 when, he indicated, she could be released for a few days before her re-scheduled sentencing hearing later in August.

The Crown opposed Hart’s release, and pointed out that after she was released from custody last year and waited to be sentenced for robbery, she accumulated several more charges, including failure to attend court, theft under $5,000, shoplifting, assault, breaching a court order and resisting a peace officer.

Hart pleaded guilty Nov. 29, 2016 to one count of robbery, but sentencing was adjourned and the judge ordered a pre-sentence report, which provides personal information and background about an accused person to help the judge render a fit sentence. A pre-sentence report generally takes eight to 12 weeks to prepare.

At about 6:21 a.m. June 1, 2015 Hart walked into the London Road Esso in the 700 block of 7 Street South and asked to use the washroom. She was told it was out of order, but instead of leaving, she asked if she could wait for a ride.

While she waited, she purchased a cup of coffee, and when the attendant opened the cash register Hart went around the counter and approached the till. The attendant asked her to leave and attempted to close the till, but Hart thrust her hand into the drawer and the two struggled. Hart managed to push the attendant away, grabbed $105, and fled.

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