An Onion Lake man charged with numerous offences for a criminal organization wants a trial by judge alone.
Jesse Dillon, 28, had an appearance in Prince Albert Provincial Court July 13 and elected to be tried by Court of Queen’s Bench judge alone.
One main difference between a judge alone and a judge and jury trial is that a judge is required to give reasons for the verdict he/she reaches but a jury only has to say guilty or not guilty without any explanation required. It’s also sometimes easier to appeal a judge’s decision than a jury’s decision. And an accused that may be seen sympathetically by a jury may choose a jury trial over a judge alone trial.
Dillon is charged with recruiting for a criminal organization, trafficking a controlled substance for a criminal organization, uttering threats for a criminal organization, and conspiracy to commit assault for a criminal organization. He is also charged with numerous firearms offences, fabricating evidence, trafficking in methamphetamine and obstruction of justice.
The RCMP Crime Reduction Team – after a five-month police investigation into organized crime in Prince Albert - arrested Dillon and four others.
Police raided a home on the Sturgeon Lake First Nation in February and arrested Brennen Sanderson, 27, Shannon Sanderson, 29, and Shania Yooya, 24.
Police arrested Dillon at the Regina Provincial Correctional Centre in April. They arrested Raini Henderson, 30, of Nipawin at the Prince Albert Provincial Correctional Centre in May.
Yooya next appears in Prince Albert Court of Queen’s Bench on July 24. There’s a warrant out for the arrest of Shannon Sanderson after she failed to appear in Prince Albert Provincial Court in March. Brendon Sanderson is scheduled to appear in Prince Albert Provincial Court on Aug. 24.
No trial date is set yet for Dillon in Prince Albert Court of Queen’s Bench.
