Accused Bank Robber Stevenson to plead guilty to eight counts of criminal offenses
By Suzy Hamilton
Accused robber Andrew Zacharias Stevenson, 34, will plead guilty in April to eight counts of criminal offenses, Nelson Provincial Court heard at the March 31 remand.
The charges include robbery using a restricted prohibited firearm, unlawful use of a firearm, using an imitation firearm and breaking and entering.
The new charges are a result of the provincial Crown separating the charges with his co-accused, Krista Kalmikoff, that relate only to Stevenson’s offences, and recharging him with those offences in eight new counts.
Speaking for his client who was present by video in the courtroom, defence counsel Ken Wyllie said Stevenson would waive a formal election and “intended to plead guilty” at the next provincial court date on April 28.
Stevenson’s co-accused, Krista Kalmikoff, has elected a trial by jury in BC Supreme Court.
Provincial Court Judge R. Hewson ruled Tuesday that there was evidence presented at her preliminary hearing in January “that a reasonable jury, properly instructed, could result in a conviction”.
He committed her to trial on all counts and Kalmikoff will fix a date for trial May 19.
Stevenson’s guilty plea brings to an end a string of armed robberies and break-ins that began in spring, 2014.
In Nelson, the Kootenay Currency Exchange was held up at gun point April 11. The masked robber escaped on a bicycle.
On April 25, the Nelson and District Credit Union was robbed by a man at gunpoint. He escaped, only to be cornered on the Kootenay Canal Bridge, approximately 20 kilometers west of Nelson by police. Stevenson attempted to escape by jumping off the bridge, fracturing his leg and hip in the fall.
A subsequent police investigation by the Independent Investigations Office cleared the police of any wrongdoing during the arrest.
Stevenson also tried to escape while being transferred to the Nelson Court House for a court hearing on September 15, 2014. Still on crutches from his fall from the bridge, he wasn’t wearing leg irons and made it for several blocks before being caught.
Stevenson is currently serving a five-month sentence for his escape attempt.
Stevenson was also was charged with robberies in Castlegar and Robson. He will appear in person for his guilty plea, the court heard, and a date for sentencing will be fixed at that time.
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