Man sentenced for stolen bike, drug possession
By Shurtz, Delon on July 24, 2020.
Delon Shurtz
lethbridge herald
When police saw Sean Walter Horvath riding a bicycle in -20 degree weather last winter, they thought it was a little odd.
It also looked a little suspicious.
They watched the cyclist with interest, and as they got closer, they realized the bike Horvath was riding had been reported stolen. Things got even more interesting as they observed him approach two men near a store on Mayor Magrath Drive South and conduct what appeared to be two “hand-to-hand” drug transactions.
The suspect was arrested, and during a search police caught him with 6.2 grams of methamphetamine.
Horvath, who has an “extensive” criminal record, including convictions for property-related offences, was charged with one count of possession of stolen property, to which he pleaded guilty Thursday in Lethbridge provincial court. He was sentenced to nine days in jail, but given full credit for time he had spent in custody after he was arrested on March 14.
Lethbridge lawyer Darcy Shurtz explained Horvath saw the bike parked against the side of a hotel and simply took it.
Horvath was also charged with one count of drug possession for the purpose of trafficking, but it was reduced to one count of simple drug possession. He pleaded guilty to the lesser charge and was fined $400 and levied a surcharge of $125.
Shurtz said Horvath struggles with drug addiction, and while he admits he was in possession of the drugs, he was clearly not drug trafficking.
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