Conditional sentence ordered for woman involved in break-in

By Delon Shurtz - Lethbridge Herald on July 30, 2022.

LETHBRIDGE HERALDdshurtz@lethbridgeherald.com

A Lethbridge woman has been placed on house arrest for breaking into several storage units in 2021.

Nikki Lee Gajda received a one-year conditional sentence after she pleaded guilty Thursday in Lethbridge provincial court to single charges of shopbreaking to commit theft and failing to comply with an undertaking.

Gajda, 32, was one of several individuals who broke into storage units at Sentinel Storage on the northside on Jan. 19 of last year. Using break-in tools Gajda and the others with her broke open several storage lockers and stole numerous items found inside.

The following day Sentinel Storage contacted police who tracked down the stolen items at the homes of various individuals, with whom police were familiar.

Following her arrest, Gajda was released on an undertaking, which required her to report to police on Feb. 2. She failed to report and was charged with failing to comply with an undertaking.

Gajda, who appeared in court in person Thursday, told court it wasn’t her fault she never contacted police.

“I was unable to attend,” she said. “I was kind of being held against my will.”

Lethbridge lawyer Vincent Guinan said even though Gajda’s reason for not contacting police is not considered a defence, he pointed out she was a victim of domestic violence at the time and was involved in a toxic relationship, from which she was traumatized.

Crown Prosecutor Adam Zelmer acknowledged Gajda’s personal circumstances, which he and defence considered when they agreed on a recommendation to the judge for a conditional sentence, which would allow Gajda to serve her custodial sentence in the community rather than in actual jail.

During the first six months of her sentence, Gajda will be under house arrest. During the remaining six months she must adhere to a nightly curfew.

Guinan said Gajda, who is doing better with the help of community services, was addicted to methamphetamine at the time of her offences, but is now sober.

As part of her conditional sentence, Gajda is not to possess break-in tools and not attend at the storage facility. She must also avoid contact with several individuals accused of participating in the break-ins, including her husband, Matthew Gajda.

Follow @DShurtzHerald on Twitter