Court Briefs
Guilty plea entered in gun theft case
Shane Magee
Northern News Services
Friday, August 21, 2015
SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
One of the two men arrested in connection with the theft of two guns from Canadian Tire in May has entered a guilty plea on several of his charges.
Beau Desire-Tesar, 28, of Yellowknife pleaded guilty Aug. 11 to charges of trafficking cocaine dating to November 2010, failing to appear in court in December 2011 and May 2015 and two charges of theft of a firearm.
RCMP stated that two short-barrelled firearms, a Rossi Ranch Hand and a Chiappa Survival Series, were stolen from a locked display case at Canadian Tire in late May.
Last month, RCMP confirmed both guns had been recovered.
Desire-Tesar remains in custody at the North Slave Correctional Centre and will return to court for sentencing on the charges Sept. 11.
Todd Vatcher, 23, also of Yellowknife, is co-accused of stealing the firearms. He was in court the same day as Desire-Tesar.
He returns to court today to enter pleas and the court was told the intention is to proceed directly to sentencing.
Taxi case could see four-day preliminary inquiry
A preliminary inquiry planned for three people accused of assaulting and robbing a taxi driver in late February could last four days, see 19 witnesses testify and involve an Arabic translator. RCMP stated earlier this year a taxi driver was assaulted and robbed of money Feb. 25.
Bradley King, Karma Eeyeevadluk and Denecho King are co-accused in the case. Both Bradley King and Denecho King remain in custody. Denecho King has also been charged with murder in connection to the December 2014 death of John Wifladt and attempted murder of Colin Digness. Eeyeevadluk is living in Fort Smith. Lawyers for the three appeared in court Aug. 11 where logistical details of the expected preliminary inquiry were revealed.
"I didn't realize (the Crown) would be calling so many" people, defence lawyer Jay Bran said in court.
A preliminary inquiry is held to determine whether there is sufficient evidence to proceed to trial. Judge Bernadette Schmaltz suggested it would be a good idea for the lawyers and the Crown to have a meeting to work through some of the details prior the inquiry starting.
The three accused are expected to return to court Tuesday.
