By Patrick Burles - @PatrickBurles on Twitter

Lethbridge man gets three year prison sentence for crime spree

Oct 26, 2016 | 12:16 PM

LETHBRIDGE – A 36-year old Lethbridge man has been handed a three year prison sentence after admitting to a pair of break and enters, stealing a vehicle and possession of a firearm.

On August 30, 2016, James Maxwell Andrew Moczo and another individual used a key they had stolen at the Chinook Regional Hospital to take an SUV that was parked outside. The two men then picked up another person and the trio went on to commit a series of break and enters, one of which turned up a pair of rifles.

Moczo was later identified using video surveillance from the hospital parking structure.

After admitting to the facts, the matter proceeded directly to sentencing with the two sides presenting a joint submission of three years.

The Crown also noted that Moczo was already under a firearms prohibition for a previous crime at the time of the offence, and as a result asked for a lifetime firearms prohibition, which was granted by the judge.

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Moczo’s lawyer, Vincent Guinan, explained that the crimes were the result of a “crippling addiction” to fentanyl.

“The addiction got the better of him and he came down this road,” Guinan added.

Charges against the two other individuals are still before the court.