LLOYDMINSTER – A man accused of forcible confinement and assault with a weapon is back in custody and scheduled to appear in a Lloydminster court Nov. 18 after being arrested for failing to appear in court.
Court documents show that 29-year-old Luke Michael Dean failed to appear in court Oct. 14 for a preliminary hearing scheduled that day. A bench warrant for his arrest was issued and defence Harvey Neufeld was granted leave to withdraw as Dean’s lawyer.
Yorkton RCMP arrested Dean two days later. He was remanded in custody and transferred to the Regina Correctional Centre.
On. Oct. 18 Dean appeared by phone in Lloydminster Circuit Court from the Yorkton RCMP jail cells. North Battleford Senior Crown Prosecutor Brenda Korchinski opposed his release and a bail verification report and canvassing of electronic monitoring was ordered. He is now represented by Lawyer Cara Hill from North Battleford Legal Aid.
On Nov. 4, Dean’s attendance in Lloydminster Circuit Court was waived and he was remanded into custody by consent of defence and Crown.
Court documents show that Dean was also out on bail when he was arrested Jan. 26, 2021, by Lloydminster RCMP after breaching release conditions for being in the City of Lloydminster. Police had responded to a complaint of suspicious activity in a Lloydminster hotel room and when they arrived they located Dean.
Dean was granted bail again in April 2021, and released on $2,000 bail with a promise to appear Oct. 14 for his scheduled preliminary hearing.
In December 2020, Dean had elected to be tried by judge alone in Battleford Court of Queen’s Bench with a preliminary hearing in Lloydminster Circuit Court.
The charges
Dean is charged in connection to an incident on July 30, 2020, when Lloydminster RCMP had received a report that a victim was allegedly confined to a residence and assaulted before he was able to flee.
Lloydminster, Alta., RCMP raided a home in the 400 block of 44 Street in Lloydminster, Sask., on Aug. 5, 2020. When they entered the residence they found unknown substances inside and called in the Alberta RCMP Clandestine Laboratory Enforcement and Response Team (CLEAR) to assist.
Dean and Jason Palsich were jointly charged with forcible confinement, assault with a weapon, uttering threats, robbery with a weapon, and extortion.
Palsich was granted bail and released from Saskatoon Correctional Centre in September 2020 with conditions. His bail conditions were eased in July 2021. His conditions of a 24-hour curfew and to not go into Lloydminster without the permission of his probation officer were amended. His 24-hour curfew was amended to allow him to go out with his mother and to go into Lloydminster with his mother. His remaining conditions remained in place including not to possess any weapons or drugs, and not to have any contact with his co-accused Luke Dean.
The Crown is proceeding by indictment against Dean and Palsich. This means more jail time if they are found guilty. The charges against Dean and Palsich haven’t been proven in court.
Palsich’s trial starts Monday in Lloydminster Circuit Court.
The Saskatchewan Lloydminster Circuit Point court falls under the jurisdiction of the North Battleford Provincial Court.
Lloydminster borders the provinces of Saskatchewan and Alberta. The RCMP detachment is on the Alberta side and there are provincial courthouses on both Alberta and Saskatchewan sides of the city.
