Fresh pleas from accused on Coutts blockade charges

By Delon Shurtz - Lethbridge Herald on August 27, 2022.

LETHBRIDGE HERALDdshurtz@lethbridgeherald.com

A southern Alberta woman who is set to stand trial next year on a charge of dangerous driving at the blockade near the Coutts border in January and February, has pleaded not to guilty to two other charges relating to the border protest.

Joanne Person entered pleas Friday in Lethbridge provincial court to single counts of mischief and possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose. She also elected to be tried by a Court of Queen’s Bench judge and a jury, with a preliminary hearing. The one-day hearing is set for January of next year.

RCMP arrested Person during the blockade of trucks and vehicles at the Coutts border, after police discovered a cache of firearms and ammunition. Eight other individuals were also charged with mischief and possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose and released on bail several months ago. Charges against two of the accused were stayed last month, while five accused are scheduled for court appearances in September and one of the accused is set for trial in December. Four other individuals face the same charges plus a charge of conspiracy to commit murder. They have been detained following bail hearings in Court of Queen’s Bench.

Person pointed out Friday that she had rejected a resolution offer from the Crown prosecutor, and wants the charges dropped.

“I respectfully declined to accept the offer made by your office, and solemnly swear I am innocent,” Person read from a prepared statement. “I request that all charges be dropped, and all wire taps and release conditions be immediately removed.”

She also asked that the Lethbridge ambulance service stop harassing her for fees she was charged after EMS was called to the jail for her by police, and that the Lethbridge Police Service pay the fees.

“I request that no further harassment of police be put upon me. I request that I be released from reporting to a parole officer, and that all conditions imposed on me because of these charges by the Crown be removed. I request that these matters be dealt with immediately upon receipt of this letter.”

Person was also prepared to read aloud her affidavit outlining why she believes she’s not guilty and shouldn’t be prosecuted, but Crown Prosecutor Steven Johnston pointed out that’s a matter for a trial judge to determine.

Person is scheduled for trial Feb. 16-17, 2023 on one charge of dangerous driving. The charge stems from an incident Feb. 1 when a pickup truck drove through the blockade and headed toward oncoming traffic before becoming involved in a head-on collision.

Calgary lawyer Kelsey Sitar represents Person on the dangerous driving charge, but the accused represents herself on the other charges.

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