Man facing 46 charges wants to hire a new lawyer

A Fort Vermillion man who last month was expected to resolve some of the 46 criminal charges he faces in Lethbridge provincial court, now wants to hire a new lawyer.

“Actually, your honour, I’d like to fire my lawyer,” Jessie Hugh Flett said Tuesday during a brief hearing in Lethbridge provincial court.

Flett, who is in custody at the Edmonton Remand Centre, was represented by duty counsel when he appeared in court by closed-circuit TV. Duty counsel had been instructed by Flett’s lawyer to adjourn the matter for a few days, even though he had previously told court he anticipated resolving some charges last month.

It’s the repeated delays that have frustrated the accused.

“He just keeps putting stuff over and putting stuff over,” Flett said, adding he doesn’t believe his lawyer is doing anything to help him.

Judge Gregory Maxwell did not immediately grant Flett’s application, but adjourned the matter to Friday to give the accused time to discuss the request with his lawyer. Maxwell told Flett he could make the request again Friday, but if granted, the matter would have to be adjourned again to allow him time to hire a new lawyer.

Flett, 33, faces dozens of charges including possession of stolen property, mischief over $5,000, possession of a weapon obtained by crime, drug possession, alter/destroy/remove a vehicle identification number, careless use of a firearm, and unauthorized possession of a weapon.

RCMP reported Jan. 6 that officers found at a residence near Brocket bales of hay that had been stolen from Pincher Creek. Police searched a home and arrested one man without incident. During a search of some property, officers seized 14 firearms, a large amount of ammunition and methamphetamine.

They also found a truck that was reported stolen out of Pincher Creek earlier that morning.

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