Man charged with murder makes court appearance

It was a brief court appearance Tuesday for a Medicine Hat man charged with firstdegree murder in the death of 64-year-old James Satre, with defence counsel granted adjournment to June 7.

Counsel for Robert S. Hoefman requested the adjournment as they’re working to have the accused review disclosure, while also deciding on the time and length for a preliminary hearing.

Hoefman was originally arrested Nov. 9 on a single count of extortion. The firstdegree murder charge was laid in January.

Satre’s body was found on the morning of Oct. 11, 2017, in the alleyway by his home by the intersection of Mill Street and Smelter Avenue.

Police said Satre appeared to be a “victim of circumstance and location,” and has no apparent connection to the extortion victim or the accused.

Bank robberies

A man accused of robbing banks in Medicine Hat had a brief appearance Tuesday, with his counsel requesting adjournment to June 14.

Ronald Joseph Big Bull, 31, faces multiple charges over three bank robberies and a bomb threat over multiple months in the city. He was denied bail in April.

Bear spray incident

A man facing charges following a Victoria long weekend incident where bear spray was set off in an apartment complex appeared in court Tuesday, adjourning his matters to June 12.

Police reported that on May 18, five people were taken to hospital after being exposed to bear spray in the complex located on the 700 block of 12 Street NE.

Jamie Snow, 27, is charged with possessing a weapon dangerous, administering a noxious substance, and three counts of failure to comply with his probation. He remains in custody at the Medicine Hat Remand Centre.

Driving disqualified

Joshua Serson was given a 45-day jail sentence after pleading guilty to driving while disqualified and failing to attend court.

Facts allege that Serson was involved in a collision on the Trans-Canada Highway on March 26, and while talking with the other involved driver proceeded to flee the scene.

Police located him later, and he admitted to the incident. This was the second instance of driving while disqualified.

Due to time served, the 27year-old was granted 29 days credit and given a three-year driving prohibition.

Collision with residence

A 60-day sentence was issued to a Medicine Hat man who stole a vehicle, drove it while impaired, and collided with a residence.

Tyler Putsey, 29, pled guilty to theft of a motor vehicle over $5,000, impaired driving, driving while prohibited, and failing to comply with an undertaking.

Facts read into court stated a member of the public observed the accused intoxicated and stealing a 2007 Pontiac G5 from an alleyway. The accused proceeded to drive erratically and at a high speed, until he struck a residence, mainly the home’s front steps.

When arrested by police, Putsey had “very strong signs of impairment,” Crown said. He was also under a condition to abstain from alcohol, and a driving prohibition.

Putsey is diagnosed with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome and has faced other charges, said the Crown, and they were working to “get him out of the court system” with community supports and workers — but these charges required jail sentence due to denunciation and deterrence.

Due to time spent in custody, 23 days of credit were granted toward the sentence, while a three-year driving prohibition was also ordered.