Man accused of armed robbery and threats set to return to court next month

By Delon Shurtz - Lethbridge Herald on November 20, 2021.

LETHBRIDGE HERALDdshurtz@lethbridgeherald.com

A man who is accused of helping a woman rob another man last year, may finally move ahead with the case when he returns to court next month.
Lethbridge lawyer Marcus Mueller told court Thursday he still needs some additional disclosure, which will have some consequences in relation to the case. But when the matter returns to court Dec. 2, he may be able to take a step.
His client, Tanner Victor Zak, is charged with armed robbery and threats to cause death, stemming from an incident 18 months ago in which a man was forced to withdraw money from an ATM, and then assaulted.
A co-accused, Chelsey Marie Beringer, pleaded guilty in June to the same charges, and is scheduled to be sentenced in January. The Crown has recommended the 23-year-old woman be sent to jail for a year, while defence has suggested a 90-day intermittent sentence and two years of probation.
On May 7, 2020 Beringer called an acquaintance, offered him sex for $400, and asked him to meet her in Coaldale. The friend said he only had $200, but agreed to meet Beringer.
At about 11 p.m. the man pulled into the parking lot of Tim Horton’s in Coaldale and Beringer got into his car. As he drove away, Beringer told him to stop, and a man wearing a hospital mask and carrying a kitchen knife walked up to the car and climbed into the back seat. He held the knife to the driver’s neck, and Beringer demanded the $200. The the masked man – Beringer’s boyfriend at the time – repeated the demand and threatened to cut the victim.
The three went to a bank where the victim withdrew money from the ATM, and the masked assailant handed it to Beringer before they returned to Tim Horton’s. Beringer kicked the victim, stole his cellphone and threatened to kill him if he called the police. Her boyfriend also threatened to kill him.
The two robbers fled on foot and the victim called police, who reviewed bank video surveillance footage. Both suspects were arrested within a day of the robbery.

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