Four years back in prison for theft, B&E, running from cops

A Red Deer man is heading back to prison for four years after a guilty plea to stealing a gun during a break and enter and fleeing from police.

Jordan Leslie David Paupst-Wall is concluding a sentence on “similar offences,” Court of Justice in Medicine Hat heard on Tuesday as defence and Crown attorneys announced a resolution agreement on new charges that were scheduled for trial later this month.

Paupst-Wall pleaded guilty to 12 charges, including other break-ins, possessing a prohibited weapon and breaches of court conditions, and will spend another 45 months in jail.

He was charged in June 2022 after a predawn smash-and-grab robbery with a stolen truck at a gun store in central Medicine Hat. He was arrested by Brooks RCMP later that day.

That came three months after he was charged by Airdrie RCMP with possessing a firearm and break-in-tools in a vehicle. Those charges earned him a 25-month sentence when the matter was resolved last summer.

“There is a spree element to this,” said Crown prosecutor Ian Elford while outlining the agreement to Judge Gordon Krinke.

Defence attorney Sean Leochko told court his client had benefited from time incarcerated and planned to further counselling to “aid his transition back into society” eventually.

Paupst-Wall, 30, was given two years in prison for the break and enter to steal firearms, one year for flight from police and one year for possessing a prohibited firearm.

Those terms will run consecutive to each other, brining the total length of incarceration to 48 months. Penalties for eight other charges, totalling 57 months, will run concurrently to the custodial sentence. Of the original 29 counts on the indictment, 17 were withdrawn as part of the plea agreement that avoids trial.

Those charges included several breaches of court conditions, and another break-in at a Medicine Hat car dealership and damage to a vehicle there, as well as possessing methamphetamine.

He will also be subject to a one-year driving prohibition when he is released from prison.

Paupst-Wall will also be required to submit a DNA sample to the national registry, is prohibited from owning firearms for life and was ordered to pay about $1,500 in restitution.