Man caught twice with a stolen vehicle sent to jail

By Delon Shurtz - Lethbridge Herald on June 28, 2024.

LETHBRIDGE HERALDdshurtz@lethbridgeherald.com

A southern Alberta man caught with a stolen pick-up truck last February then a stolen motorcycle three months later, has been sentenced to four months in jail.

Ellis Martin Stokes was sentenced Thursday in Lethbridge court of justice after pleading guilty to two charges of possession of stolen property.

On Feb. 19 while patrolling in the Town of Taber, police officers notice a suspicious truck parked “in an unusual position” behind a church, and contacted the registered owner.

“He said he was just about to call the police to report the truck was stolen overnight,” Crown Prosecutor Caylene Foley told court.

One of the officers disconnected the battery to ensure the vehicle could not be driven away, then waited until two men approached the truck. One of the men, Stokes, climbed into the driver’s seat and was arrested.

On May 27 police received a report that Stokes was seen on a stolen dirt bike, despite an earlier release condition prohibiting him from being in a motor vehicle without the registered owner, and he was arrested again.

Stokes, who court was told has a lengthy criminal record with convictions for similar offences, was sentenced to two months for each offence, but given credit for two months spent in pre-disposition custody, leaving him with two months to serve.