Maskwacis resident Eroll Clay Rabbit, 59, accused of second degree murder, was recently denied bail and will wait until fall for his trial.
There was a pre-trial conference on Dec. 11, 2024, and a bail hearing on Dec. 17.
Jury selection has been scheduled for Sept. 8, 2025, and the jury trial is to commence from Sept. 8 to 19, 2025.
On Oct. 9, 2023, Maskwacis RCMP responded to an assault at a residence on Louis Bull First Nation. The 66-year-old victim, Gary Gordon Raine, was taken to hospital but later died from his injuries.
Omeasoo murder
Chervaine Dean Saddleback, 24, charged with second degree murder, had a court date on Dec. 19, 2024, set over to Jan. 9, 2025 at the Wetaskiwin Court of Justice.
On Jan. 28, 2024, Maskwacis RCMP was called to assist EMS with a 25-year-old man, who was then transported to hospital where he was declared deceased.
An autopsy determined that the manner of death was a homicide.
On Sept. 28, 2024, RCMP arrested Saddleback for the murder of Wyatt Omeasoo. Both the victim and the accused were residents of Maskwacis.
Bull murder
Adam James Cook, 30, and Morgan Maslin, 22, both from Wetaskiwin, are charged with the second degree murder of Antwon Bull, 19, of Ponoka.
Their trial was set for Dec. 2 to 20, 2024, at the Wetaskiwin Court of King's Bench but it was adjourned on Dec. 19 until Jan. 14, 2025.
Bull died of his injuries after an altercation in Wetaskiwin on July 8, 2022.
Wetaskiwin RCMP responded to 40 Ave. east and 56 St. at 8:25 p.m. When EMS arrived, they located Bull, who had sustained life-threatening injuries. He passed away in hospital later that evening.
Soosay murder
Maskwacis resident Donovan Kyle Rain, 33, charged with the second degree murder, is scheduled to enter his election and plea on Jan. 16 at the Wetaskiwin Court of Justice.
Rain was charged 10 months after the death 26-year-old Gordelle Soosay.
On Feb. 11, 2024, Maskwacis RCMP were alerted to a deceased person in a residence on 6 Mile in Samson Cree Nation. When police arrived, Soosay was confirmed as deceased. An autopsy determined the death was a homicide.
Later the same day, the victim's car was found on fire south of Highway 611 near 3 Mile, on Samson Cree Nation.
Rain was arrested on Dec. 6, 2024 following an investigation by the Alberta RCMP Major Crimes Unit.
Rain had a Judicial Interim Release Hearing and was remanded into custody. At his court appearance on Dec. 12, the defence asked for an adjournment to review disclosure.
Rain is also facing unrelated charges linked to an alleged carjacking in Ponoka on May 9, 2024. A trial has been scheduled for that case for May 5, 2025 in Ponoka.
Dennehy murder
Dylon Samuel Saddleback’s life sentence for the killing of Blain Dennehy of Montana First Nation was overturned by the Alberta Court of Appeal on Nov. 1, 2024.
Saddleback, 25, was to be released following the Court of Appeal's decision and a new trial was ordered. He was scheduled to enter his plea on Dec. 6 at the Ponoka Court of Justice but the matter was adjourned until June 10, 2025.
Attempted murders
Shooting in Louis Bull
Kashton Fearious Bull, 24, has been charged with attempted murder, possession of a firearm contrary to an order and four other weapons-related offences.
He was scheduled to appear on Dec. 19, but the matter was adjourned until Jan. 9.
On Aug. 7, Maskwacis RCMP responded to a shooting in front of a residence in Louis Bull.
Emergency workers tended to a 15-year-old victim that had suffered multiple gunshot wounds. The victim was flown to hospital with serious life-threatening injuries.
Downtown shooting
Maskwacis resident Eldon James Junior Saddleback, charged with attempted murder, assault with a weapon and other additional charges, is scheduled for a preliminary hearing from Jan. 14 and 15 at the Ponoka Court of Justice.
Saddleback and co-accused Anthony Kelsey Lee Omeasoo were charged after a shooting near the Leland Hotel in downtown Ponoka on Sept. 21, 2022.
Omeasoo was found guilty of intentionally discharging a firearm and was sentenced on May 14, 2024, to 990 days in jail and a 10-year firearms prohibition. The other charges against Omeasoo were withdrawn.
Ponoka stabbing
Cree Lightfoot, 22, and Tracy Lightfoot, 49, charged with attempted murder for a serious assault in Ponoka in October, 2023, are now scheduled for a summary disposition (a court judgment made without a full trial).
The judge is scheduled to give his decision on Jan. 24, 2025 at the Wetaskiwin courthouse.
On Oct. 13, Ponoka RCMP responded to a report of a serious assault in a residential area.
The victim had suffered apparent stab wounds and other serious injuries and was taken to hospital.
Wetaskiwin assault
Shaden Francis Buffalo, 36, has been charged with attempted murder and aggravated assault.
A summary disposition was set for Jan. 2, but was adjourned. The next court date is now scheduled for March 20, 2025, for Buffalo to speak to the court.
On Aug. 13, Wetaskiwin RCMP received a report that a severely injured male was found in a field by the Hope Mission Shelter.
The victim, 32-years-old, had severe head injuries. He was treated by EMS on site and flown to hospital in serious, life-threatening condition.
