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Man accused of kidnapping released

A man charged with involvement in a local kidnapping on the May long weekend was released from custody on Monday.


A man charged with involvement in a local kidnapping on the May long weekend was released from custody on Monday.

A bail verification report was filed for Creston Hanson, during the Estevan provincial court sitting and it outlined eight conditions that would lead to the Crown consenting to his release. The Estevan resident has been in custody since his arrest the day after the incident, along with five others who are alleged to have involvement in the matter. A seventh accused was recently arrested for the same incident. Hanson's charges include kidnapping, extortion and assault with a weapon.

The bail verification report outlined eight conditions that would satisfy his release from custody, while the Crown prosecutor requested one more be added in court. Among the conditions of the $500 cash recognizance with deposit, Hanson must submit to the electronic monitoring program and be confined to his residence for the electronic monitoring period. He also must reside in Estevan and not purchase, possess or consume any non-prescription drugs or alcohol and remain under a weapons prohibition.

The Crown added a condition whereby Hanson is to have no contact with any of the six co-accused or the three complainants.

Hanson is scheduled to next appear before the court on Aug. 29.

In other court proceedings, Kristofer Douglas Donald was scheduled for sentencing after a pre-sentence report was filed, following guilty pleas for robbery, assault and a number of breaches of conditions. After the Crown and defence each made their submissions regarding Donald's sentence, presiding Judge Karl Bazin decided to reserve his decision until Aug. 11.

Donald's lawyer, Lori Dunford, said in her submissions to the court that the offences have all involved alcohol to some degree and that it is important for her client to receive programming to help him with his alcohol dependence. That programming may not be available in jail.

The Crown suggested a prison sentence of 18 months and a probationary period following that for between 12 and 18 months. The 20-year-old of Estevan has been in custody since March 18, and the Crown suggested the time served be given 1:1.

Dunford suggested time served could be 1.5:1, suggesting a period in custody of six months, in which his time served would be sufficient, or 10 months, with his time served equalling about two-thirds of that sentence already. He could then be released from custody on probation and begin counselling.

The offences he pleaded guilty to occurred between Jan. 19, 2010 and March 18, 2011. The Crown noted Donald had been on remand seven times before his most recent arrest in March.

Dunford read a letter to court written by Donald, in which he said that he has already "ruined" his life and pulled his family apart. In the letter he said he regrets his actions and now needs someone other than his lawyer to understand that he wants to be a responsible member of society.