Man in stolen property case back in custody

A Lethbridge man who was expected to resolve several criminal charges before he failed to show up for court earlier this month, has been arrested and is back in custody.

The matter for Gerald David Thurber was in Lethbridge provincial court Thursday, where duty counsel represented the accused and adjourned the case to May 3, ostensibly for a bail hearing and to allow time for Thurber to retain a lawyer. Thurber was previously represented by Calgary lawyer Brad Kraus, but Kraus withdrew after the accused failed to attend court on April 5.

“Mr. Thurber was ordered to be here in person...to resolve the matters before the court,” Kraus told the judge on the previous occasion. “I’ve made repeated efforts to contact him; texting him, calling him, leaving him messages. I’m simply out of options here, sir.”

Thurber was facing nearly 50 charges, primarily for possession of stolen property. However, the charges were previously consolidated into four charges of possession of stolen property over $5,000, and one count each of possession of stolen property under $5,000, making or possessing identity documents, and drug possession.

Thurber was expected to resolve those charges in March, as well, but with a different lawyer, and a trial was cancelled in anticipation the matters would be resolved. But during a hearing March 11 the Lethbridge lawyer was allowed to withdraw after court was told a conflict had developed and the lawyer could no longer represent the accused.

Thurber was charged nearly two years ago after RCMP recovered stolen property they found in a Coaldale storage unit.

Coaldale RCMP, following up on information they received from a local business, searched the storage unit in June 2020 and discovered more than $100,000 worth of stolen property. Police reported the property was stolen from area break-ins or obtained by identity theft through fraudulent use of a credit card.

The stolen property included two cargo trailers,15 welders, a $9,000 wicker patio set, various power tools, air compressors, a snow blower, ladders, new light fixtures, generators and RV accessories. Most of the stolen property was returned to the owners.

Police said the offences were committed in several areas, including Bassano, Coaldale, Lethbridge County, Lethbridge and Taber.

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