Two accused in pub break-in set for May trial
By Delon Shurtz on March 18, 2021.
LETHBRIDGE HERALDdshurtz@lethbridgeherald.com Two Lethbridge men accused of breaking into a city business late last year will stand trial later this spring and summer.Lawyers confirmed Wednesday in Lethbridge provincial court that the accused, Travis Robert Taylor and Travis Roy Priest, will stand trial May 18-19 and July 12 in relation to a break-in at Honkers Pub and Eatery Nov. 29.
On that day a small truck was driven through the front window of the northside business, and two men then stole an ATM from inside the business and drove away.
The following Thursday Lethbridge police officers searched a residence in the 2700 block of 7 Avenue North, and found evidence relating to the Honkers break-in.
Taylor, 30, is charged with break and enter, breach of an undertaking and mischief causing damage under $5,000. Priest is charged with break and enter, mischief causing damage under $5,000, and drug possession.
Priest also faces charges of shopbreaking to commit theft, shopbreaking to commit mischief, possession of stolen property under $5,000 and possession of ID documents relating to offences more than a year ago.
The charges stem from an incident April 28, 2019, when two men broke into an electrical substation in the 3500 block of 25 Street West by cutting the lock on a gate. Police said the suspects damaged the lock on the entry door, and once inside damaged a significant amount of equipment to get at the copper wire inside.
Spools of copper wire and various pieces of equipment, including a laser level, network connector and battery charge pack, were stolen, and a transformer worth $250,000 0and a grounding cart unit worth $25,000 were damaged. Damages totalled $300,000, while the stolen copper and equipment are worth $6,500.
The following day police responded to a report of suspicious activity at a home in the 2700 block of 7 Avenue North after people were seen transferring copper wire from a vehicle into a garage. Police later searched the property and recovered stolen property, including some items from the substation.
An agent appearing in court for Priest’s lawyer, said the Crown and defence were discussing possible resolution of the charges, and the matter was adjourned to April 7.
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