Bail denied to Coaldale man for breaches
By Delon Shurtz - Lethbridge Herald on February 19, 2022.
LETHBRIDGE HERALDdshurtz@lethbridgeherald.com
A Coaldale man who was released on bail a couple of days after he went on a profanity laced tirade in a Lethbridge courtroom, had been warned not to breach any of his release conditions.
During the bail hearing Nov. 24, Judge John Maher warned Cody Gregory Fleming that if he breached and was arrested, he would likely be denied bail and would remain in custody for some time. The accused had hoped to be released two days earlier, but the bail hearing on Nov. 22 was cut short after he repeatedly swore at the judge and claimed his rights were not read to him when he was arrested.
Fleming insisted he was being held in custody unlawfully, and demanded a “real judge” hear his case. When Judge John Maher suggested adjourning the bail hearing for another day in front of a different judge, Fleming became even angrier.
The accused was released on $500 bail, with the promise to pay if he breached any of his release conditions. He was ordered to keep the peace and behave himself, attend court when directed, to not possess any weapons, not consume alcohol or drugs, and not contact his next-door neighbours. Then he was warned not to breach any of the conditions or he might not be granted bail again.
On Feb. 5 the accused was back in custody after he was arrested for allegedly failing to attend court in January. As predicted, his plea for release was denied during a bail hearing on Monday.
The matter was adjourned to allow Fleming time to contact Legal Aid for a lawyer, and on Friday he confirmed a lawyer would be appointed. However, he didn’t want his case adjourned again and insisted on being released, despite being denied bail earlier in the week.
“You’re bail ordered denied, so you’re staying put,” Judge Erin Olsen reminded him. “That’s not going to change any time soon.”
Fleming claimed his charges are fake and when Olsen said the charges are real, Fleming became angry.
“I want this over with,” Fleming demanded. “These are real charges. I was never read my Miranda rights. I was forced to deal with these crimes. This is is not right. I do not want to get married, I do not want to spend any time with anybody involved in this. This is ridiculous.”
Olsen ignored Fleming’s rant and adjourned the matter until Tuesday to allow time for a lawyer to be appointed and appear in court.
But Fleming had to get in the last word.
“I hope to hell I never talk to you again.”
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