Woman gets jail for stabbing threat
By Delon Shurtz - Lethbridge Herald on May 23, 2024.
LETHBRIDGE HERALDdshurtz@lethbridgeherald.com A woman who was charged with robbery after threatening to stab employees at a Lethbridge business, has received a 60-day jail sentence.Lillian Kathleen Scout was sentenced Wednesday in Lethbridge court of justice, where she pleaded not guilty to the robbery charge, but guilty to a lesser and included offence of theft under $5,000.
Court was told Scout entered Value Village on Mayor Magrath Drive South on May 7 and, while walking around the store, selected $500-$700 worth of clothing and packed them into luggage and a bag she picked up in the store. Some time later staff told Scout to leave the bags empty while she shopped, but as she approached the tills she told them to get out of her way or she would stab them.
Employees backed away and Scout left the store with the unpaid merchandise, but was apprehended shortly afterward, during which police also found a small amount of drugs.
“It would certainly appear there’s a substance abuse issue based on the drugs,” Crown Prosecutor Michael Fox said.
Fox pointed out Scout has a lengthy criminal record, with convictions primarily for breaching court orders, theft and drug possession. Scout mostly received fines, probation or short jail terms of less than a week.
Although sentenced to two months in jail for stealing from the Lethbridge store, Scout was given credit for the equivalent of 24 days she had already spent in custody, leaving 36 days on her sentence. She is also prohibited from going to the store.
Scout also faces charges of assault with a weapon, assault, uttering threats to cause death or bodily harm and possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose, which are not related to the thefts from the store. She pleaded not guilty to the charges, and the matter was adjourned to set a date for trial. 3
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