Man gets jail for stealing bike

By Delon Shurtz on January 16, 2021.

LETHBRIDGE HERALDdshurtz@lethbridgeherald.comL

A Lethbridge man who was perfectly prepared to steal any bicycle he came upon, has received a short stint behind bars.
Hunter Ferdinand Nolte pleaded guilty Friday in Lethbridge provincial court to one count of theft under $5,000 and was sentenced to 30 days in jail.
Court was told Nolte was already riding a bicycle June 6 of last year when he approached a bicycle that was locked to a bike rack outside a city restaurant. Crown Prosecutor Clayton Giles said Nolte just “happened” to be toting a pair of bolt cutters, which he used to cut the lock on the better quality bike. He then road off on the bike, leaving his inferior bicycle in the bike rack.
“He simply preferred the other person’s (bike) to his own,” Giles said.
Giles, who noted Nolte has a lengthy criminal record, said he recommended the short jail sentence because the offence was not only brazen and committed in broad daylight, but Nolte was carrying bolt cutters and ready to use them unlawfully when the opportunity arose.
Lethbridge lawyer Vincent Guinan said Nolte, who appeared in court by CCTV from the Lethbridge Correctional Centre, was addicted at the time and looking for items he could steal then pawn to satisfy his addiction.
Although sentenced to 30 days in jail, Nolte was given full credit for time he’s already spent in pre-trial custody. He remains in custody, however, on charges of aggravated assault and being disguised with intent to commit an indictable offence. He returns to court next week, ostensibly for a bail hearing on those charges.

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