BY KIRK STARRATT
Kings County Advertiser/Register
Charges against a South Alton man accused of playing a role in the armed robberies of two local pharmacies have been changed.
Albert Rex Baird, 43, was charged with stealing prescription medication from Mader’s Pharmacy, Coldbrook, July 18, 2010, and from Clinic Pharmacy, Kentville, April 23, 2011. He was charged also with failing to comply with a probation order in Kentville April 23.
However, the Crown withdrew the charge sheet during a July 25 court appearance and transferred the process to a new information sheet. Baird is now charged with aiding or abetting the robbery carried out by Timothy Jordan and Justine Sullivan at Mader’s Pharmacy; aiding or abetting the robbery carried out by Kristen Dawn Dowling at the Clinic Pharmacy and failing to comply with a probation order.
Judge Alan Tufts adjourned the matters to July 27 for a show cause hearing.
During a July 14 court appearance, Baird entered a guilty plea to a charge of failing to comply with the conditions of a recognizance in Coldbrook July 6. Judge Tufts sentenced Baird to 30 days in custody, with seven days credit for remand time.
Baird was driving west along Commercial Street, New Minas June 20 when he was stopped and arrested by police. Baird was released on his recognizance and a $5,000 non-cash surety following a June 29 court appearance. Part of the release was a daily curfew from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m., unless in the company of his surety, Harold Frances Marriott.
However, the New Minas RCMP took Baird into custody July 8 and charged him with failing to comply with his recognizance. The Crown opposed his release and the accused was remanded into custody. Marriott applied to the court to withdraw as surety July 11. Judge Tufts granted the application. Baird was detained until the July 14 court appearance.
Kristen Dawn Dowling, 28, Upper Pereau, is currently serving three years in custody for her role in the April 23 pharmacy robbery in Kentville. She was sentenced May 16 on charges of armed robbery, unlawful possession of hydromorphone for the purpose of trafficking and committing an offence while wearing a mask.
Kentville Police estimate the value of the large quantity of prescription pills stolen during the robbery at over $29,000.
