Photo credit: EverythingGP staff.

By EverythingGP staff

Court

Court update: Preliminary hearing dates set in Grande Prairie murder, sentences given in fraud and shopbreaking proceedings

Dec 10, 2024 | 6:00 AM

Preliminary hearing dates set in murder case

Alberta Justice says preliminary hearing dates have been set in a murder case.

The hearing for David James Sietsma will be held October 14-17, 2025, in Grande Prairie court.

Sietsma, also known as ‘Toothless’ was charged with murder after 34-year-old Echer Marcial was found dead on Range Road 55 near Clairmont on March 14, 2024.

Sietsma was arrested on May 31, 2024, by Ontario Provincial Police from the Schreiber and Nipigon detachments.

Former sports official pleads guilty to fraud

Alberta Justice says a former official with a local sports organization has pleaded guilty to a charge to fraud.

Ashley Porterfield was given a conditional 12-month sentence to be served in the community after pleading guilty in Grande Prairie court. Another charge of criminal breach of trust was withdrawn. Porterfield was also ordered to pay $6,000 restitution. That is due by September 30, 2025.

An agreed statement of facts filed with the court says an investigation by RCMP started in September of 2022 after a report that the Grande Prairie Fastball Association had been defrauded.

The statement of facts says Porterfield admitted to police during what is described as “a non-custodial statement” to defrauding the organization in order to pay bills because of financial troubles.

The court document says Porterfield would deposit association money into her own account and transfer money back to the association. She started paying back some of the money once the fastball association found out what was happening.

The $6,000 restitution is the amount that has not yet been paid back, according to the agreed statement of facts

One of two people charged after business break-in sentenced

Alberta Justice says one of the two people charged after a 2022 break-in has been sentenced.

Ryan Turner of Grande Prairie was given an 18-month conditional sentence to be served in the community after pleading guilty to a charge of shopbreaking with intent. A second charge was withdrawn.

Charges against a second accused, Nelson Mizera of Grande Prairie, were withdrawn in October.

RCMP said at the time on October 30, 2022, at around 3 p.m., police noticed a suspicious vehicle parked near a business that was closed while Mounties were out on patrol near Township Road 731 and Range Road 62.

Further investigation found a break-in going on. RCMP said the scene was contained and Police Dog Services was called in to help.

Two suspects were arrested as a result.