A Ponoka man faces jail time and extensive fines after pleading guilty to driving while unauthorized, impersonation and two breaches of a court order, following sentencing in Ponoka provincial court on Friday Jan. 23.
Kenton Wood, 21, was observed on July 15, 2014, driving approximately 122 km/h in a 110 km/h zone along Highway 2A in a Pontiac.
During the traffic stop, it was discovered the driver did not have his licence on him but informed the officer his name was Kyle Wood and provided the correct information to convince the officer.
In the following days, a man visited the Ponoka RCMP detachment after having issues registering his new truck; it was Kyle Wood. He told the RCMP he had never driven the Pontiac that had been pulled over.
After this turn of events, the Pontiac was seized and Kenton turned himself in.
On Sept. 4, 2014, Rimbey RCMP officers stopped a vehicle for speeding. Kenton, the now suspended driver, told them his name was Kyle Wood to avoid arrest. In subsequent days Kyle was once again forced to visit the RCMP.
The breaches took place between Nov. 27 and Dec. 23, 2014, as he was found living in an unapproved residence, which is a stipulation of his court order.
Kenton has a previous criminal record with several similar charges.
Judge W. Andreassen sentenced Kenton to 90 days in custody. He had been in custody since Dec. 27 and crediting him at a day and half that leaves 49 days. Another default day was added for traffic offences.
Kenton also received a $400 fine.
Gas card fraud
A 38-year-old man has been sentenced $520 in fines after pleading guilty to fraud with a gas card.
On July 12, 2013 Three Hills RCMP received a complaint of a wallet theft. A card from the wallet was later used at a gas station in Ponoka and surveillance pointed to Kristopher Rowe, who made a $20.83 purchase.
Numerous firearm and weapon charges
On Friday, Jan. 23 Mathew Blenkhorn elected to be tried by a Queens Court judge without a jury and has requested a preliminary hearing.
The hearing has been set for April 17 at 1:30.
Blenkhorn faces a multitude of charges stemming from an Oct. 24, 2014 incident including: possession of a loaded prohibited firearm without lawful excuse, transport of a prohibited firearm in a careless manner without lawful excuse, transport of prohibited weapon (brass knuckles) in a careless manner and possession of a controlled substance.
Prohibited brass knuckles lead to sentencing
A man has pled guilty to no insurance and weapons charges and has received heavy fines for his offences.
Jody Szoke, 28, was stopped by police on Oct. 16, 2014, because his plates had expired.
The court was told a nervous Szoke exited the vehicle and seemed to not want the constable approach the front of his vehicle.
Cannabis could be smelled from inside the vehicle and a search turned up two sets of homemade brass knuckles.
The court was told his insurance had expired three days before being caught and that he had simply lost track of time to renew it. A fine of $2,875 was given.
Szoke received another fine of $780 for the possession of brass knuckles.