Deering’s charges withdrawn

By Justin Seward

Commentator/Courier

The charges against Cypress County’s Kurtis Deering were withdrawn on Feb. 3 at Medicine Hat Provincial Court.
Deering was allegedly charged under Criminal Code 338 (1) (a) which is fraudently taking cattle or defacing brand.
Under the Section 338 (1)(a) of the Criminal Coded it states, “Every person is guilty of an indictable offence and liable to imprisonment for a term of not more than five years or is guilty of an offence punishable on summary conviction who, without the consent of the owner, (a) fraudulently takes, holds, keeps in his possession, conceals, receives, appropriates, purchases or sells cattle that are found astray.”
He also was allegedly charged under the Criminal Code 354, which is possession of property obtained by crime.
This means under the CC, “Every one commits an offense who has in his possession any property or thing or any proceeds of any property or thing knowing that all or part of the property or thing or of the proceeds was obtained by or derived directly or indirectly from (a) the commission in Canada of an offence punishable by indictment; or (b) an act or omission anywhere that, if it had occurred in Canada, would have constituted an offence punishable by indictment.”
Lastly, Deering allegedly committed Trafficking in property obtained by crime under Section 355.2 of the Criminal Code.
“ Everyone commits an offence who traffics in any property or thing or any proceeds of any property or thing knowing that all or part of the property, thing or proceeds was obtained by or derived directly or indirectly from (a) the commission in Canada of an offence punishable by indictment; or (b) an act or omission anywhere that, if it had occurred in Canada, would have constituted an offence punishable by indictment.”
Redcliff RCMP initially charged Deering of these alleged offenses between April 2019 and August 2020.