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SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
Sentencing for Anthony Griep, who sexually assaulted a woman alongside the Frame Lake Trail in 2008, has been postponed until March 27 due to a discrepancy between the Crown and Griep's lawyer.

Griep, 26, who appeared in court yesterday, pleaded guilty Jan. 25 to grabbing a 19-year-old woman who was walking home along the trail on June 5, 2008.

He dragged her into the bushes, and then sexually assaulting her. He was arrested on May 30, 2011 for the crime, after being ordered to submit a DNA sample for an unrelated conviction.

When Chief Judge Robert Gorin asked the lawyers if they were ready to proceed with the facts and sentencing yesterday, Crown prosecutor Blair MacPherson asked for a 15-minute recess to discuss an issue that defence lawyer Baljindar Rattan had just raised with him.

Upon returning to the courtroom, Rattan submitted that she was finding difficulty with the sentencing range the Crown was preparing to recommend to the court. She said it was different than what she had discussed with another Crown attorney - Jean-Benoit Deschamps - who was unable to attend court for personal reasons yesterday.

The Crown's proposal "will have a significant impact on Mr. Griep," said Rattan, who then requested time to discuss the issue with the Crown and return to her office in Edmonton for further information. MacPherson said the Crown was ready to proceed, and had been given copies of e-mail exchanges between the defence and the public prosecutors' office.

However, he consented to postponing the sentencing "considering the nature of the offence."

Both lawyers agreed on Griep being held in custody while waiting for the later court date. He had been out on bail since June 17.

Woman faces 127 fraud and theft charges

A Yellowknife woman is facing 126 charges of falsifying and then using cheques between May 2008 and May 2011, and one count of stealing over $5,000 from a Yellowknife communications company during the same time frame.

Coleen Laura McClean, 62, is accused of knowingly making 63 forged cheques worth $80,410.08 payable to herself or a relative, and then using them as if they were genuine.

McClean missed her first two scheduled court appearances, the latest on Feb. 28, because of medical issues, her lawyer Hugh Latimer told the court.

The case is scheduled to be before the territorial court again on April 17.

Thrasher pleads guilty, not guilty

Lloyd Thrasher appeared in territorial court yesterday to enter pleas on three different incidents. To two charges relating to a Jan. 4 break and enter at a Franklin Avenue convenience store, Thrasher pleaded guilty.

To failing to attend court on Feb. 7, for which a warrant was issued for his arrest, Thrasher pleaded not guilty. Regarding charges related to a Feb. 21 break and enter into Willy's Convenience Store, he pleaded guilty to breaching his probation by being out past curfew, but not guilty to all other counts.

He is scheduled to be in court next on March 14 to set dates for a trial.

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