Man facing weapons charges yet to hire lawyer
By Delon Shurtz - Lethbridge Herald on October 3, 2023.
LETHBRIDGE HERALDdshurtz@lethbridgeherald.com A 32-year-old Lethbridge man facing numerous weapons-related charges stemming from a traffic stop late last month, still hasn’t hired a lawyer.Duty counsel represented Jamey Kenneth Jensen during a brief hearing Monday in Lethbridge court of justice, and said even though the accused qualifies for funding through the Legal Aid Alberta, he has, for “various reasons,” been unable to call the organization. In the meantime the accused remains remanded by his own consent at the Lethbridge Correctional Centre pending a bail hearing.
Given the nature of the charges, the Crown also pointed out Monday it is proceeding by indictment, which is more serious and carries a higher penalty than a summary or less serious proceeding.
Jensen was arrested just before midnight on Sept. 23 after Alberta sheriffs saw a vehicle speeding along Metis Trail near Jerry Potts Boulevard and conducted a traffic stop. The driver appeared intoxicated and refused to get out of his vehicle.
The Lethbridge Police Service was contacted and confirmed the driver was subject to a lifetime firearms and weapons prohibition. Officers saw a rifle case in plain view inside the vehicle, and during a search police seized a loaded rifle with an overcapacity magazine, a second magazine, hundreds of rounds of ammunition, a ballistic vest, balaclava, baton and handcuffs. The driver was arrested without incident.
Jensen is charged with four counts of possession of a prohibited firearm, two counts unauthorized possession of a prohibited/restricted weapon, and single counts of unauthorized possession of a firearm, possession of a firearm/weapon obtained by an offence, and possession of body armour without a valid permit
Jensen, who did not appear in court by CCTV from the jail, was unable to attend court last week because he was in dry cell and suspected of carrying contraband.
“(He) is believed to have things in his body that he’s not allowed to have in this centre, and it would be contraband introduced to the regular population,” an LCC officer told court during a hearing last Thursday. “So until he’s cleared medically, that he doesn’t have those things in his body anymore, he will be in a dry cell procedure and not available for court.”
Although Jensen didn’t appear in court Monday, he is no longer in dry cell. His matter is scheduled to be back in court next Tuesday to confirm whether he has retained a lawyer. Follow @DShurtzHerald on Twitter 4
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