Sentencing adjourned for man who started February grassfire

Sentencing for a man charged after a grassfire in an open field by the Gas City Campground and Clarion Hotel has been adjourned to Oct. 25.

Wesley Vanbocquestal appeared before the Medicine Hat Court Wednesday with his counsel asking for the adjournment. While originally set down for trial over charges of arson, guilty pleas were instead entered in July to a lesser charge of mischief.

The grassfire occurred Feb. 18, just after 5 p.m., with emergency crews responding to extinguish the blaze. No one was injured in the fire and none of the surrounding buildings were damaged.

Stolen cards

A 105-day sentence was handed down Wednesday for a Medicine Hat man who failed to report to probation, failed to show up on time for an weekend sentence — and when arrested by police, was found in possession of stolen debit, AMA and credit cards, and a knife he wasn’t supposed to have.

Daniel Fettig was also put on probation for a year-long period by the judge. Due to time spent in custody, he has 73 days left to serve.

Sentence

It was a 52-day sentence for a man who pled guilty to failing to attend court, shoplifting from Walmart, breaching a non-contact order, and failing to report to police as required.

John Buchanan was given 44 days credit for time served.

Buchanan did luck out, as the judge quashed two tickets issued as he was the registered owner of a vehicle involved in a flight from police almost a year ago.

The Crown noted police attempted to pull it over on Nov. 2, 2016. Instead of pulling over for police, the driver of the vehicle took off, going at times 100 km/h on residential roads and also going through three stop signs, successfully evading police. Police were unable to ascertain the exact driver due to the flight.