Man pleads guilty to charges over incident with tenants but dispute certain police claims

By Medicine Hat News on January 15, 2025.

@MedicineHatNews

A Medicine Hat man has admitted to holding a butane torch during an altercation with his tenants last month, but his lawyer says several points in a police account will be contested at sentencing in March.

Aiden Matthew Duchscherer, 39, pleaded guilty on Tuesday morning at Alberta Court of Justice in Medicine Hat to single counts of arson with disregard for human life, uttering threats and disobeying a court order to be of good behaviour.

Court heard that on Dec. 7, 2024, three individuals were in a bedroom at the home they rented with Duchscherer on the Southeast Hill when they heard loud yelling in the basement.

Prosecutors said Duchscherer then appeared with the torch and began making demands through a closed door.

Police were called and the man was subdued, though defence attorney Greg White told court that he plans to contest an allegation that his client was uncooperative during the arrest, during which police deployed a pepper-spray projectile at his client.

Duchscherer is not charged with resisting arrest, but White argued the manner of arrest should not be considered an aggravating factor when the sentence is determined.

Duchscherer remains in custody at the Medicine Hat Remand Centre. A sentencing hearing will proceed on March 5 with Justice Catherine Regier presiding.


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