Not guilty plea entered in attempted abduction case
By Delon Shurtz on March 20, 2021.
LETHBRIDGE HERALDdshurtz@lethbridgeherald.com
A 21-year-old Lethbridge man charged in connection with an attempted abduction in the city last year is preparing to stand trial.
During a hearing Friday in Lethbridge provincial court, an agent for the accused’s lawyer pleaded not guilty on behalf of Heinrich Van Daniel Blanco to one count of attempted abduction of a person under 14 years of age, and an unrelated charge of dangerous driving.
The accused also elected to be tried by a provincial court judge, and the matter was adjourned to April 6 to allow time to schedule a pre-trial conference and set a trial date.
At about noon on Aug. 31, 2020 police responded to an attempted abduction in the 100 block of Mic Mac Boulevard and Red Crow Boulevard West.
Police reported the driver of a silver car pulled up to a 13-year-old boy and offered to give him a ride to the store to buy candy.
The boy refused and the vehicle drove away.
Police investigators identified the vehicle and prepared a composite drawing of the subject, which, coupled with tips from the public, led to the identity of a suspect.
Blanco was granted bail following his arrest but ordered to adhere to several release conditions.
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