Taxi robber pleads guilty, sentencing adjourned to new year

By Delon Shurtz on October 21, 2021.

LETHBRIDGE HERALDdshurtz@lethbridgeherald.com

A 33-year-old woman who robbed a taxi driver and took off in his vehicle nearly two years ago, pleaded guilty Tuesday in Lethbridge provincial court but won’t be sentenced until the new year.
Kimberlie Rose Eagle Speaker pleaded guilty to charges of robbery and theft of a motor vehicle, stemming from a violent incident in Lethbridge on Nov. 11, 2019. 
The taxi driver picked up Eagle Speaker and another woman from a convenience store on 13 Street North about 7:40 a.m. and was told to drive to a northside residence. However, as they approached their destination, Eagle Speaker, who was sitting in the front seat, pulled out a knife and demanded money. She also said the woman in the rear seat had a gun.
The driver stopped and attempted to flee, but a computer tablet fell from his pocket onto the car seat. As he tried to recover the tablet Eagle Speaker “poked him with a knife,” and the two struggled, during which the driver was cut on the face. He managed to run into a field and Eagle Speaker drove away.
The women made off with about $35, a $600 tablet and $500 cellphone.
About an hour later police noticed a woman standing on 5 Avenue North who appeared to need help. She asked the officer why there were police cars in the area and he told her they were investigating a complaint. The woman, who appeared to be dope sick, told the officer she was not part of any robbery, but she matched the description of the taxi robber and was arrested and taken to the police station.
Shortly afterward an officer stopped a motor vehicle, and determined the passenger was the other woman involved in the robbery. She was arrested and eventually confessed to police. She told police that after Eagle Speaker sped away in the taxi, she became frightened and ran from the vehicle when Eagle Speaker stopped shortly afterward.
A sentencing hearing for Eagle Speaker has been adjourned to Jan. 8, 2022 to allow time for the preparation of a pre-sentence report and Gladue report, which will provide the court with Eagle Speaker’s personal circumstances and aboriginal background to help the judge determine a fit sentence.
Her sister, Jessica Mae Eagle Speaker, is charged with robbery, uttering threats, theft of a motor vehicle and possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose, in relation to the taxi incident. She is scheduled to stand trial in January.
Kimberlie Eagle Speaker also pleaded guilty Tuesday to charges of housebreaking with intent, theft of a motor vehicle, failure to remain at the scene of an accident and driving while suspended.
Court was told that on March 25 of this year Eagle Speaker had stolen a car, which she crashed into a parked car, which was pushed into another vehicle. Eagle Speaker fled on foot but witnesses gave police her description and she was arrested shortly afterward about a block away.
The owner of the vehicle told police Eagle Speaker had been staying at his house and took the vehicle without his permission.
On Aug. 24 of this year, at about 2:30 a.m., Eagle Speaker smashed the window of a southside home and was caught by the homeowner as she crawled through the window. She told the homeowner she had broken into the house to find a flashlight, because she had stored some property in the yard but couldn’t find it.
Eagle Speaker was sentenced to 90 days in jail for the break in and theft of the motor vehicle, and fined $450 for the ticket offences.

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