By Sheldon Spackman

September 2022 Incident

Stettler men sentenced in large canola theft last year

May 29, 2023 | 3:06 PM

Sentences have been handed down to two Stettler men charged in the theft of a large amount of canola last year.

Jesse James Lyman MacDonald, 33, and Tristan James Ruby, 37, were each sentenced following a trial in Stettler Court of Justice on May 11, 2023.

MacDonald was convicted on counts of flight from peace officer, possession of property over $5000, dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, and fail to comply with a release order, for a total of 360 days in jail, along with a six month license suspension. Ten other counts were withdrawn.

MacDonald, however, was also charged and sentenced in a separate incident where Mounties seized a loaded gun and ammunition near a residence in Bashaw in March 2022.

Related: New trial date for man charged in Bashaw loaded gun and ammunition seizure

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According to the Alberta Crown Prosecution Service, MacDonald’s multiple files were dealt with together.

“He pled guilty to various charges on May 11 and 12. Some charges were withdrawn after those guilty pleas were entered. The accused received a global sentence for various offences of 420 days imprisonment (less 285 days pre-trial custody).”

Ruby, meanwhile, was convicted on two counts of fail to comply with a release order and sentenced to 90 days in jail while 14 other charges were withdrawn.

It was in the early morning hours of Sept. 28, 2022, when Bashaw RCMP received a report that a significant amount of canola was stolen from a farm in Camrose County. Bashaw RCMP and members of the Central Alberta Crime Reduction Unit (CAD CRU) were deployed to the area.

At approximately 1:30 p.m., Bashaw RCMP then received a report of suspicious individuals attempting to sell canola. RCMP located a vehicle and grain truck suspected in the thefts. Bashaw RCMP and CAD CRU officers successfully arrested the driver of the vehicle in Mirror, AB. Upon searching the vehicle, officers located a loaded 12-gauge shot gun.

At the same time, officers from RCMP CAD CRU, supported by Bashaw and Stettler RCMP, attempted to do a traffic stop with the grain truck. The driver failed to stop for officers. Eventually, officers successfully deployed a tire deflation device on the grain truck and with the assistance of an RCMP helicopter and Police Dog Services, the driver was arrested.

As a result of the investigation, police say a stolen grain auger, a firearm, and a significant amount of canola were recovered.

Related: Stettler men charged in canola theft going to trial

Related: Bashaw RCMP and Central Alberta Crime Reduction Unit arrest canola thieves