Accused re-hires lawyer in anticipation of resolving charges

By Delon Shurtz - Lethbridge Herald on May 10, 2022.

LETHBRIDGE HERALDdshurtz@lethbridgeherald.com

A Lethbridge man who was expected to resolve several criminal charges before he went AWOL last month, didn’t remain free for long before he was back in court with his lawyer.
The lawyer, Brad Kraus of Calgary, confirmed Monday in Lethbridge provincial court that he has been retained, again, by Gerald David Thurber on several outstanding charges.
Kraus had expected to dispose of his client’s charges during a hearing last month, but he asked to get off the record after Thurber failed to attend court on April 5, and a warrant was issued for his arrest.
“Mr. Thurber was ordered to be here in person…to resolve the matters before the court,” Kraus told the judge at the previous hearing. “I’ve made repeated efforts to contact him; texting him, calling him, leaving him messages. I’m simply out of options here.”
Kraus said Monday he still hopes to resolve all of Thurber’s charges, and the matter was adjourned for a week. In the meantime, Thurber remains in custody at the Lethbridge Correctional Centre,
Thurber was facing nearly 50 charges, primarily for possession of stolen property, but 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.
The accused 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11 the Lethbridge lawyer was allowed to withdraw after court was told a conflict had developed and the lawyer could no longer represent the accused. Kraus was retained the first time shortly afterward.
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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