Garage break-in attracts 45 day sentence

By Delon Shurtz - Lethbridge Herald on December 23, 2022.

LETHBRIDGE HERALDdshurtz@lethbridgeherald.com

Like many of Lethbridge’s homeless population, finding ways to stay warm during the winter can be challenging and sometimes even illegal.

In February of this year a woman happened to see light coming from her garage, and concerned someone may have broken in, she called police. When police arrived they found John Leslie Twigg and another individual inside the garage, where they had built a small fire.

“It had been a bit cold that night…on February 14, 2022, and they had taken refuge in this garage and started a little fire inside a metal toolbox. They lit a tuque on fire to obtain some warmth,” Crown Prosecutor Clayton Giles said this week in Lethbridge provincial court, where Twigg pleaded guilty to a charge of mischief.

Twigg, who has a criminal record with convictions for assault, assault with a weapon, theft, credit card fraud and various property offences, was sentenced to 45 days in jail, to run consecutively with a sentence he is currently serving on other matters.

Lethbridge lawyer Miranda Hlady told court Twigg, 28, was homeless at the time and confirmed his intention when he broke into the garage was to get warm rather than commit an offence.

“He does regret his actions,” Hlady added.

Giles pointed out Twigg found some drugs while they were inside the garage, and while he was also charged with drug possession, the charge was withdrawn.

Twigg faces additional charges unrelated to the break-in, including carrying a concealed weapon, possession of stolen property, break and enter, and disguised with intent. He returns to court on those and other charges on Jan. 10.

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