Impatient to get out of police custody, Jessey Styles Bennett attempted to convince a judge to run a bail hearing so he could prove he had a suitable community release plan.
However, this course of action was different from what his Legal Aid lawyer, Suzanne Jeanson, had in mind. In Moose Jaw provincial court recently, Jeanson told Judge Daryl Rayner she had a bail verification report that had been recently written and wanted to adjourn Bennett’s matters so she could provide a strong release plan.
Bennett, 31, was in custody after being arrested in Moose Jaw for allegedly: fraudulently consuming electricity from SaskPower from Sept. 17, 2017 to March 1, 2019, causing mischief on Jan. 5, 2019, possessing a prohibited weapon (brass knuckles) without a licence to hold it, possessing brass knuckles while prohibited by the court from doing so, breaching an undertaking four times by visiting certain family members, and failing to attend court twice.
Bennett told Rayner that he was in this predicament since he had been living with his mother and using electricity while living there. He wanted out of police custody and was willing to attend any court-mandated appointments for counselling, therapy, or addictions treatment, while he would also be OK with probation or fines.
He also wanted to be released since he had a job and needed to work to keep his apartment, while he wanted to see his dogs as well.
“Ms. Jeanson can do a lot of good for you and assist you in running your bail hearing,” Rayner said.
She wasn’t able to do that immediately since she wanted time to look at what supports could be offered to Bennett in the community as part of his release plan, the judge continued. However, if Bennett wanted to run his own bail hearing, the problem was he could remain in custody until all of his matters were dealt with if he failed to satisfy Rayner’s concerns.
“I honestly don’t even know what all those charges are,” Bennett said. “Where did the fraud come from? Half this stuff I didn’t even do.”
Since Rayner was concerned about what would happen to Bennett without proper supports in place, he adjourned Bennett’s matters until Oct. 11 so a bail hearing could be run then.
“I truly want you have to get a good release plan in place and Ms. Jeanson is prepared to assist you with that,” he added. “Given what I’ve read in the (bail) report, I have to tell you, sir, it’s going to be an uphill battle for you to be released right now unless there is legitimate plans put in place.”
Moose Jaw provincial court next meets on Tuesday, Oct. 15.
