Application for drug treatment court rejected for accused in bomb making case

A Lethbridge man accused of making bombs in his residence last year, and then arrested earlier this year on drug-related offences, has had his application to have his case handled by the drug treatment court rejected.

Lawyer Vincent Guinan informed the court that Hlavach had been denied his application to the drug treatment court during an appearance in Lethbridge provincial court on Thursday. Guinan stated given this information he would be seeking an adjournment until Aug. 19 for a show cause hearing on that day, which was granted by the court with the consent of the Crown.

Lethbridge police were looking for drugs when they searched a home in the 800 block of 16th Street South on Sept. 24 of last year. The explosive disposal unit was called in, however, after police noticed several suspicious packages. The explosives unit confirmed the items were improvised bombs.

Police reportedly found seven of the devices alongside fentanyl, cocaine, methamphetamine, $13,000 in cash, stolen property and ID documents, and other items Hlavach was prohibited from having.

Hlavach’s charges include multiple counts of drug possession, possession of a prohibited weapon, knowingly possessing a prohibited weapon, unauthorized possession of a prohibited weapon, possession of an explosive substance, possession of stolen property, and possession of identity documents.

Hlavach also faces drug-related charges in relation to a traffic stop on April 20 when police stopped a vehicle at the 2200 block of 9 Avenue South. During the search Hlavach and co-accused Dylan Ivan Sokol were arrested and charged after police found 160 grams of methamphetamine, 132 grams of fentanyl, four grams of cocaine, various prescription pills, drug paraphernalia and about $4,300 cash.

Hlavach has been in custody since that time and Sokol was granted bail on May 6. Sokol has since had his bail revoked due to other matters, and is now in remand at Lethbridge Correctional Centre.

Sokol, in a separate request through his lawyer Darcy Shurtz to the court on Thursday, asked that all his matters also be adjourned until Aug. 19.

-With files by Delon Shurtz