A high-profile case in rural Alberta has raised questions about citizens’ rights to self-defence. In March 2020, two men stopped their truck on a public road near a farmer’s property. The landowner called his son and told him to bring a gun because he was concerned they were there to steal property.
The issue of whether people accused of violent crimes should be granted bail is back in the news after a police officer in Ontario was killed while stopping to check on a car in a ditch
The Alberta government claims that changes to the province’s impaired driving laws made at the end of 2020 “will keep our roads safer by providing serious and immediate consequences for all impaired drivers.”
Criminal organizations play a large role in illegal activities that occur in Alberta.
Four examples of alleged hate crimes investigated by Albertan police or dealt with by the courts in 2022.
When people think of crime, some may assume it mainly occurs in large urban centres, such as Edmonton and Calgary. That assumption is incorrect.
A criminal breach of trust occurs when someone abuses a position of authority for self-benefit and against the interests of the person to whom they owe the duty of trust. This charge is most commonly laid where an employee steals from their employer.
The theft of catalytic converters is on the rise across Canada, and Alberta is no exception. In 2021, there were 4,797 reported catalytic converter thefts in Alberta with 2,647 in Edmonton.
You can be charged with fraud if police believe you committed an offence where a person or the public was defrauded of any property, money or valuable security or service.
Intimate partner violence (IPV) is defined as any violent, threatening, dominating, coercive or controlling behaviour between past or present partners.
If you steal something, such as a tool from a shed or money from a cash register, that’s theft.
The crime of break and enter (B&E) is one of the most common offences in Canada – and also one of the most misunderstood.
The term “bail” has been used frequently in news reports lately. In mid-July, Alberta resident Pat King was granted bail after spending five months in jail.
Revenge porn involves posting or sharing intimate images or videos of someone without their consent for vengeful purposes.
Sextortion is a form of blackmail. It often starts with what seems to be an innocent conversation between two people.
Alberta needs a civilian board to oversee police forces in the province, so I am encouraged to see the province moving in that direction.
If Alberta decides it should have a provincial police force instead of paying for services from the RCMP, now may be the ideal time to make that investment whiles surging oil demand and prices allow us to balance our budget.
Not only is everyone in Canada innocent until proven guilty, courts have to reach that verdict and decide on sentencing in a reasonable amount of time.
More than 100 people face charges related to the truckers’ protest in Ottawa. Those include mischief, obstructing police, disobeying a court order, assault, possessing a weapon and assaulting a police officer.
The truckers' protest in Ottawa and at various border crossings including Coutts, Alta., received plenty of media coverage in recent months.
Any visual or recorded material depicting someone under the age of 18 engaged in sexual activity or displaying their genitals is considered child pornography. The penalties vary depending on the charge and the circumstances, but upon conviction you will likely be facing jail time, not to mention the negative social stigma associated with the crime.
If you believe viewing or storing a small amount of child pornography is not a serious crime, think again.
As COVID-19 continues to disrupt court operations across Alberta, those accused of criminal charges are the most affected. I have clients who have seen their cases presumptively adjourned three or four times. That is simply not fair.
Thefts and frauds are two of the most common offences in Canada. Some people might not realize that the penalties for each crime increase substantially if the amount stolen or defrauded is more than $5,000.
If you've been accused of what is known as a white-collar crime, it is important that you have experienced litigators at your side so you can avoid liability and protect your business reputation.
