BATTLEFORD – A Makwa Sahgaiehcan First Nation man who was charged in connection to a shooting on Onion Lake Cree Nation, and several car-jackings in Lloydminster, was sent to prison.
Lucas Aaron Oakes, 25, pleaded guilty to nine charges in Battleford Court of Queen’s Bench April 21. With time-and-half credit for time served while waiting for his trial, Oakes has five years left to serve.
Oakes, and Jesse Leigh Heathen, 34, from Lloydminster, were arrested in July 2020 after taking Saskatchewan and Alberta RCMP on a high-speed chase.
Heathen has pleaded not guilty and a judge alone trial is scheduled to start in Battleford Court of Queen’s Bench in April 2023. The charges against Heathen haven’t been proven in court.
According to police, Onion Lake RCMP got a call at about 5 p.m. on July 29, 2020, that a man was shot on Onion Lake Cree Nation. He was taken to hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries.
Oakes, and allegedly Heathen, then drove 30 kilometres south to Lloydminster and tried carjacking two vehicles at gunpoint after they had crashed their vehicle. They were able to steal a truck from an individual in their third armed carjacking attempt.
RCMP in Alberta and Saskatchewan started two pursuits but called off both over public safety concerns. At one point the suspect vehicle drove into oncoming traffic in the westbound lanes on Hwy 16, which is a four-lane divided highway.
Approximately two hours later, officers from Maidstone RCMP got a call about a stolen truck near the junction of Hwy 16 and Hwy 303. The vehicle was located in Lloydminster later that day and Montana Horse from Makwa Sahgaiehcan First Nation was arrested.
Half-an-hour later, Maidstone RCMP got a report that a truck was stuck near Hillmond. No one was at the vehicle when police arrived but they soon found Oakes and Heathen walking on a nearby road.
Both Oakes and Heathen were charged with theft of a truck, robbery using a firearm, discharge of a firearm, unauthorized possession of a firearm, assault, uttering threats and flight from police.
Montana Horse was charged with possession of property obtained by crime, possession of a controlled substance, and two counts of failing to comply with conditions. She was wanted by police at the time of her arrest. In 2021 she was sentenced to 12 months probation.
Following his sentencing, Oakes was ordered to submit his DNA to the National DNA Data Bank, banned from owning firearms for life, and was given a two-year driving prohibition once he is out of prison. In addition, he has to pay a victim $10,523 in restitution.
ljoy@glaciermedia.ca
