BONNYVILLE - Suzie Amanda Cardinal will remain in jail until her trial March 23, after being denied release from prison on Tuesday.
Honourable Judge Kathleen Williams wasn't satisfied Cardinal was releasable, noting the accused has failed to attend court and follow court orders on several occasions.
Cardinal, who appeared in Bonnyville court via CCTV from the Edmonton Remand Centre on Feb. 18, has been charged with shoplifting, three counts of failing to appear in court, two counts of possessing identifiication not belonging to her, break and enter, mischief causing damage, possession of property obtained by crime, and three counts of failing to comply with conditions following incidences in the Lac La Biche and Bonnyville areas. Cardinal pleaded not guilty to her Bonnyville-related matters, including the break and enter, mischief causing damage, and possession of stolen property charges.
The 39-year-old has been accused of stealing from a Lac La Biche grocery store on Jan. 10, 2019. Police responded to a complaint from the business and reviewed video footage showing a female taking items off of the shelf and placing them into a duffle bag before leaving the store.
RCMP identified the suspect as Cardinal and a warrant went out for her arrest.
On May 10, 2019, Cardinal was arrested and released on an undertaking. She was taken into custody again after failing to attend her June 10, 2019 court date, and was released 11 days later on a new recognizance.
A warrant went out for her arrest after she didn't meet with her bail supervisor as per her court order.
Police were responding to an unrelated complaint in the rural subdivision of Bonesville, just south of the Lac La Biche hamlet, on Aug. 10, 2019 when they came across Cardinal walking on the side of the road.
Court heard that the officer knew she was wanted on warrants and pulled over. After arresting Cardinal, RCMP searched the bag she was carrying and reportedly found two separate identification documents belonging to another person.
Her most recent offence took place on Jan. 31, 2020 in the MD of Bonnyville, where a property owner called RCMP about three people who appeared to be causing damage and stealing from their summer residence. The owner went out to investigate after his son notified him their trail cameras had picked up people on their rural property when he came across a truck close by. Using his flashlight, he looked inside of the vehicle and spotted their trail cameras.
Police responded and found the vehicle with Cardinal and another female hiding inside. Cardinal was arrested and has remained in jail since.
Crown prosecutor Caeleigh Shier was opposed to her release, citing Cardinal's pattern of failing to appear in court and abide by conditions.
"She quite clearly has no intention of following court orders upon release," Shier said in court.
Defence counsel, Patrice Taylor, said her 39-year-old client had been experiencing a bad year when she failed to attend her court dates. According to Taylor, Cardinal didn't have a steady income in 2018 and found it difficult to find a ride into court, resulting in several missed dates. The laywer also stressed there are several issues relating to the court's case, including the lack of physical evidence in the shoplifting or the break and enter charges.
The defence stated that Cardinal has potential work lined up upon her release so she will have the money to afford insurance for her car.
Williams didn't feel that argument was a good enough reason to release her from prison, noting Cardinal's related and recent record, and denied her release on the primary and secondary grounds.
Cardinal is scheduled to appear in court for her March 23 trial, after pleading not guilty to her Bonnyville-related matters, including the break and enter, mischief causing damage, and possession of stolen property charges.
Her Lac La Biche offences will be back in their respective court March 3.
