Jail time for possession of stolen property

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

LETHBRIDGE HERALDdshurtz@lethbridgeherald.com

A 58-year-old Lethbridge man caught with stolen property earlier this month will spend Christmas behind bars.

Gregory Stephen Johnston was sentenced Thursday in Lethbridge provincial court to more than a month in jail after he pleaded guilty to single charges of possession of stolen property under $5,000, possession of identity documents, and two counts of failure to comply with release conditions.

On Dec. 14 police, who were conducting a stolen property investigation, searched Johnston’s home in the 700 block of 19 Street South and seized a bow and arrow set that had earlier been reported stolen. They also found a driver’s licence belonging to another person, a sword, and various other items, including BB guns and a “propellent deterrent device.”

Johnston, who was also in possession of a crossbow, was, at the time, on release conditions prohibiting him from possessing weapons.

Lethbridge lawyer Ingrid Hess told court her client has suffered from substance abuse his entire life, but there have been periods of sobriety, particularly when he had his own flooring installation business.

“He’s hoping to get back to that upon his release,” Hess said, adding Johnston is also considering options for treatment.

Johnston, who has a lengthy criminal record, was sentenced to 45 days in jail, minus the equivalent of 12 days for time he spent in pre-disposition custody following his arrest. He also remains in custody on other charges, including drug possession for the purpose of trafficking and possession of a firearm in a vehicle. He returns to court on those matters Jan. 5.

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