Repeat offender receives six month sentence for driving offences

By Delon Shurtz - Lethbridge Herald on January 25, 2022.

LETHBRIDGE HERALDdshurtz@lethbridgeherald.com

Driving while prohibited on two occasions, and nearly striking a pedestrian on one of those occasions, has earned a 26-year-old man six months in jail.
Dylan Sokol was sentenced Monday in Lethbridge provincial court, after pleading guilty to two charges of driving while prohibited and single charges of breach of an undertaking and dangerous driving.
Court was told that on April 14 Sokol had been placed on a three-year driving prohibition from unrelated offences, but only two days later he was seen by a witness driving away from his girlfriend’s residence at a high rate of speed. The witness told police it appeared Sokol “hammered the gas” as he was leaving, then he drove down 7 Avenue South and nearly hit pedestrians crossing the street.
The following June Sokol, who was still prohibited from driving, as well as prohibited from being in a vehicle without the registered owner, was driving a black Ford F150 when he was seen by police who were conducting traffic enforcement. Police checked the licence plate and discovered the vehicle was registered to someone in High River. The female passenger in the truck with Sokol was not the registered owner.
Sokol, who court was told has a criminal record that includes previous convictions for flight from police and dangerous driving, was sentenced to six months on all four charges, to run concurrent to each other. He was also prohibited from driving for another three years.
Sokol apologized and said he recognizes the mistakes he’s made, but Judge Erin Olsen noted he risked the public’s safety repeatedly and flagrantly breached court orders.
Soko faces additional charges of driving while prohibited, dangerous driving and failing to comply with release orders. He returns to court on those matters Feb. 22.

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