The following are court updates on recent police reports and crimes related to the Ponoka area.
Human trafficking
A Ponoka man accused of recruiting and exploiting more than a dozen women is facing numerous charges, including human trafficking and sexual assault.
On Dec. 20, 2022, a search warrant was executed on a home in Edmonton’s Ottewell neighbourhood. Edmonton Police Service assisted in the search warrant.
Police said there’s a community of these women that he targets, some with no fixed address, and these women may better recognize him by the name ‘Bear.’
Christopher Becks, 37, is facing seven charges, including one count each of trafficking in persons, procuring, receiving material benefit, advertising sexual services, sexual assault, overcoming resistance to commission an offence and uttering threats.
He was scheduled to enter his election and plea in Edmonton Provincial Court on March 17, where he plead not-guilty.
Becks has elected to have a trial by judge and jury, with his next court date, a preliminary hearing, scheduled for Sept. 27-29, 2023.
Five charged with flight from police
Journey Okeynan, 20, of Montana First Nation, charged with a slew of firearms offences and flight from police, is set to enter his election and plea in Ponoka Provincial Court on March 24.
Five people were arrested after a report of a shooting on 53 Street in Ponoka on March 4 led to a police pursuit.
A complainant reported individuals in a GMC pickup had shot a firearm at him several times.
When RCMP arrived the suspect vehicle quickly fled and was followed by members on Montana First Nation. The five occupants of the vehicle were arrested after they stopped at a residence.
In the vehicle, officers found a sawed off .22 calibre rifle, a spent shell casing, a small amount of drugs believed to be cocaine and methamphetamine, and a baton-taser.
Okeynan was charged with discharge of a firearm with intent, assault with a weapon, possession of a prohibited weapon, possession of a controlled substance, five firearms offences, two charges of failing to comply with a probation order, flight from police, dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, possession of a firearm with a tampered serial number and disguise with intent.
Jacqueline Claudette Johnson-Dieter, 48, a resident of Samson First Nation; Cree Lightfoot, 21, from Red Pheasant First nation; Tracy Lightfoot, 47, of Ponoka, and Doris Standingontheroad, 48, of Montana First Nation were all charged with dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, flight from police and four separate firearms offences.
Those four suspects have court dates scheduled for March 31 in Ponoka.
Two suspects in attempted murder
Eldon James Saddleback Junior, 34, a resident of Maskwacis, and Anthony Kelsey Lee Omeasoo, 29, a resident of Wetaskiwin, were charged with attempted murder after a shooting in downtown Ponoka on Sept. 21, 2o22.
Saddleback was scheduled to appear before the Ponoka Provincial Court on March 17 to set a date for trial.
Both Saddleback and Omeasoo have been scheduled for preliminary hearings on Oct. 16 and 17, 2023.
On Sept. 21, at 2:51 a.m., Ponoka RCMP received reports of a shooting near the Leland Hotel.
A victim with what appeared to be multiple gun shot wounds was identified and taken to hospital by STARS in stable condition.
Saddleback, a resident of Maskwacis, and Omeasoo, 29, a resident of Wetaskiwin, were apprehended in Banff National Park on Sept. 26.