City man sentenced to five years for home invasion

SHOT FIRED INTO WALL OF HOME DURING INCIDENT

A Lethbridge man has been sent to a federal penitentiary for breaking into a home last month and threatening two people with a loaded handgun.

Jonathan Alexander Kogler pleaded guilty Thursday in Lethbridge provincial court to one count of robbery with a firearm and was sentenced to five years in prison.

Kogler, 29, broke into a home in the 500 block of 13 Street South about 5:15 a.m. Nov. 14 and ordered a man and woman to give him cash and drugs. Kogler, who was armed with a .22-calibre handgun, also threatened to shoot the couple’s young child.

Although Kogler’s face was hidden under a mask, he fled empty handed after the man of the house recognized his voice. As Kogler ran away he fired a bullet into a wall.

Crown prosecutor Vaughan Hartigan told court Kogler didn’t actually intend to shoot anyone, but someone could easily have been hurt, nonetheless, had the gun been accidently fired. And while the crime is particularly aggravating because Kogler fired the gun, Hartigan gave him credit for confessing to the offence and several others, co-operating with police and offering an early guilty plea.

Kogler, who appeared in court by closed-circuit TV from the Lethbridge Correctional Centre, also pleaded guilty to two counts of stealing a motor vehicle and several counts of possession of stolen property and shopbreaking.

In August 2016 Kogler broke into a home, entered the garage and stole a vehicle. Then in September he stole another vehicle and went for a joy ride. When police searched him and his home they found him in possession of a credit card, an identification card and radar detector, all of which had been reported stolen.

That same month Kogler and another person broke into several businesses — LA Chefs Catering and Events, Spitz Stadium, and Triangle Gas and Wash — and stole several items. They also broke into the Lethbridge Seniors Citizens Organization and a shed at Dave Elton Park, causing considerable damage.

When police searched Kogler’s home they found a F150 truck, a breathing mask stolen from an aquatics store and a stolen pressure washer.

Kogler was sentenced to another nine months in jail for the additional offences, but given credit for the equivalent of 35 days he had spent in custody waiting to resolve his charges.

Judge Derek Redman agreed with the joint submission by the Crown and defence for a prison sentence, and noted that even though 69 months is on the “low end of the range,” he was prepared to give Kogler credit for co-operating with police and accepting responsibility for his actions.

“Thank you, your honour,” Kogler said as he was led from the court room to begin his sentence.

In addition to his prison term, Kogler must submit a sample of his DNA for the National DNA Databank, and he is prohibited from possessing weapons for life. He must also make restitution of about $24,000 for damages to two businesses and a vehicle.

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