Personal struggles hindering man’s ability to follow release conditions

A man nabbed by Red Deer RCMP with outstanding warrants in Medicine Hat was granted bail Thursday.

James Mitchell, 46, appeared at the Medicine Hat Court by CCTV from Red Deer, with the judge allowing him to be released on $500 no-cash bail with the hopes that this time around he has the supports in place to not breach release conditions.

Mitchell was originally arrested in Medicine Hat on Jan. 8 on charges of kidnapping, unlawful confinement and assault — he allegedly was the driver of a vehicle that a woman forced her older teenage daughter into and assaulted. Mitchell was released on no-cash bail at the time, in part because the Crown recognized he had a lesser involvement, and attempted to extricate himself from the situation once he realized what was happening.

But since then, he has been arrested twice over breaching his curfew and failing to attend court — a struggle, as defence counsel explained Mitchell lived in Red Deer and has been dealing with homelessness.

Unlike previous releases, defence says Mitchell is in contact with a specific counselling and support service that will help transport him to court, and he will be at a homeless shelter so will have a stable place to stay.

Mitchell was arrested just after midnight June 12 by Red Deer RCMP, when officers on foot patrol in the downtown area located him and another person who had warrants out for their arrest. RCMP seized a knife from Mitchell, and he now faces new counts of breaching his release conditions and one count of possessing a weapon for dangerous purpose.

Mitchell’s next court appearance in Medicine Hat is July 19.

Pharmacists

Legal counsel for three local pharmacists each facing one count of fraud over $5,000 and theft over $5,000 requested adjournment to July 12.

At Thursday’s court appearance, counsel requested the adjournment due to what was called a “quite voluminous” amount of disclosure each have received concerning their clients’ cases, and the need for time to go through it.

No pleas have been entered yet, while the cases are being handled by a specialized prosecutor for economic crime.

Kathryn Kaiser, Evan King and Robert Stadnyk were charged in December over allegations they received rebates and incentive payments to the sum of $1.6 million directly through negotiating drug purchases. All three worked at pharmacies owned by the Medicine Hat Co-op (now known as South Country Co-op), and have since had their employment terminated.

Trafficking charges

Three of several people arrested by Medicine Hat Police in recent weeks following a two-month drug trafficking investigation made brief court appearances Thursday.

Levi Aebig’s next appearance is set for June 27. Aebig faces four counts of drug trafficking, possessing a prohibited weapon and breaching a previous firearms prohibition order.

Daniel Chrysler’s next appearance was set for June 29. Chrysler is charged with trafficking meth and possessing proceeds of crime.

Ashley Gackle’s next court appearance is July 20. Gackle is charged with trafficking meth and possessing meth for the purpose of trafficking.

The investigation led to the arrest of 11 people, 45 charges and the seizure of some $10,000 in drugs, including meth, heroin, cocaine and marijuana.