A local man who has been charged with break and enter has been released from custody.
On Tuesday, June 19, Lionel Rene Normand was released from the Edmonton Remand Centre regardless of the Crown's recommendation that he remain behind bars.
Normand has been charged with two counts of breaching his conditions, two counts of possession of stolen property obtained by crime, breaching a peace bond, break and enter with intent to commit and indictable offence, and break and enter not a dwelling.
The 60-year-old's most recent charges arise from an incident that took place from May 8 to 13.
Residents on Hwy. 659 called Bonnyville RCMP on May 14 when they discovered their property had been broken into. Several outbuildings and vehicles were damaged, and firearms were stolen.
Photos captured by their surveillance system revealed Normand, along with Gordon Dumais and Randy Cardinal, had attended the property several times over the course of six days. The suspects were believed to have stolen several firearms.
Officers located and arrested Normand in Bonnyville. He provided police with a statement where he admitted to being on the property, but not to stealing the guns.
Normand's record dates back to 1975, with what Crown prosecutor Terry Mazerolle described during Normand's June 19 court appearance, as "regular occurrences" of property-related offences since 2000.
Mazerolle was concerned if Normand was released from custody he would breach his conditions, and was likely to reoffend.
"There's a substantial likelihood he will commit an offence," he told Honourable Judge Lawrence Nimersky.
The Crown was opposed of his release on both the secondary and tertiary grounds, referencing his criminal record and the gravity of his charges.
Normand has remained in custody since his arrest on May 22.
Acting as duty counsel, Leyton Grey described a man who was a "jack of all trades" and was suitable for release because of his cooperation with the investigation.
According to Grey, after providing a statement to the RCMP, Normand led the officers to a "stash" location.
Normand claims he wasn't involved with Dumais or Cardinal, he had only heard the property was unattended and had shown up on the same day as the others.
"He does accept responsibility for being involved with the property," Leyton explained, adding Normand went inside outbuildings, but never broke anything.
Nimensky agreed with Leyton that there was "no basis for holding Normand in custody."
He granted the Bonnyville man release on a $3,000 bail with conditions not to contact Dumais or Cardinal, not to attend the scene of the offence or contact the property owners, and to remain on a 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. curfew.
Normand will appear in court on July 17 to speak to his charges.
