A local man is facing charges after another man showed up at the hospital emergency room with a gunshot wound to the leg.--NEWS FILE PHOTO
@MedicineHatNews
A Medicine Hat man faces a host of charges, including possession of a gun, after a man arrived at the emergency room this week with a bullet hole in his leg.
Chad Richard Lentz was denied bail in Medicine Hat Court of Justice on Thursday after his lawyer argued Lentz is not formally charged with the shooting and the case against him is largely circumstantial.
Justice ruled in favour of prosecutors who opposed bail stating that while there is a presumption of innocence, and not considering the potentially more serious crime, the allegation of possessing a gun when prohibited was enough to keep him in custody.
“The court has serious concerns,” said Justice Catherine Regier, noting three life-time weapon bans laid in separate criminal proceedings during the 2010s.
Lentz currently faces a total of 30 weapons-related charges, but is not accused of shooting the man, who is a workmate and an out-of-town guest of his at the time.
During the hearing court was told that police arrived at the Medicine Hat Regional Hospital at about 10 a.m. on Feb. 24 to interview a man who said he heard a loud pop and felt a sting in his thigh while he and Lentz were out walking a dog.
Prosecutors say separate police interviews with both men – Lentz dropped the man off at hospital but left – provided little information but raised suspicions.
Major crimes investigators then obtained a warrant for outdoor security camera footage at the Lentz residence, near the site of the suspected shooting.
Prosecutors stated that during that search police officers spotted a gun in the home. They later obtained another warrant related to the gun and say they seized the 9mm calibre pistol.
They also reportedly seized several knives, gun accessories and a small number of various calibre ammunition rounds. Those comprise 18 counts of possessing dangerous weapons in contradiction of a lifetime ban on owning firearms. Lentz, who has not yet entered a plea, is also charged with possessing small quantities of drugs, careless storage of a firearm and owning a gun with serial markings defaced.
“No charges have been laid in relation to the injury, but that is still under investigation,” said Crown prosecutor Jase Cowan. “The Crown’s concern is that we have a number of firearm prohibitions … and Mr. Lentz has a history of being in trouble near where guns are present.”
Defence attorney Alan Fay stated a criminal record included 10-year-old convictions.
The new case against his client, he said, is based on “conjecture,” adding that while he is awaiting disclosure regarding the warrant, it is likely he will challenge it.
“In the absence of evidence the sole factor of obtaining the search warrant was the Medicine Hat police don’t like Mr. Lentz,” argued Fay.
“There are real concerns about breaches of Charter rights by the Medicine Hat police.”
A release plan presented by Fay would have allowed his client to travel for work as a pipeline welder and post $2,500 security with the surety in the case being the man who was injured.
[Editor’s Note: This version of the article corrects a date that was incorrect.]
