The couple arrested for their alleged involvement in last Friday’s armed robbery at Nelson and District Credit Union are now facing charges related to two earlier incidents.
Andrew Stevenson is now facing a total of 15 charges and Krista Kalmikoff is co-accused on 10 of those. The charges relate not just to the NDCU robbery on April 25, but also to the April 11 armed robbery at Kootenay Currency Exchange in Nelson, and two break and enters at pharmacies in Castlegar on April 18.
For their alleged involvement in the armed robbery at the Nelson Branch of the NDCU, both are charged with robbery and several charges related to the possession of a firearm. Stevenson has additional charges for disguising his face with intent to commit an offence and pointing a firearm.
They are also both charged with robbery with a firearm for an incident that occurred on April 11 in Nelson, the day the Currency Exchange was held up. Stevenson alone was also charged with disguising his face and two counts of unlawfully discharging a firearm for the incident on that date.
And they’re both charged with two counts of “break and enter and committing an indictable offence” for incidents that occurred on April 18 in Castlegar, the day that two early morning break-ins occurred at Shoppers Simply and Pharmasave.
Police are still investigating the duo’s involvement in other armed robberies throughout the region and more charges may result. All of the charges at this point are based on allegations that have not been proven in court.
The pair was scheduled for a bail hearing on Wednesday, however Stevenson was physically unable to attend due to injuries sustained when, according to police, he jumped over a bridge railing and fell 30- or 40-feet while attempting to avoid arrest this past Friday.
Because he was not in court, Stevenson’s hearing was re-scheduled for Monday and only Kalmikoff’s application was considered.
Kalmikoff’s hearing lasted about two hours during which the 25-year-old sobbed quietly at her seat in the prisoner’s box. A slim woman with long dyed-black hair, she stared at the floor through most of the proceedings, only occasionally looking out at her family members sitting in the public gallery.
Due to a publication ban, media cannot report on the evidence or arguments presented before the court at the bail hearing until after a trial has taken place.
However, the outcome was that Kalmikoff could be released on bail, subject to $40,000 sureties to be paid by a family member if she fails to follow her release conditions. Those conditions require she stay at that family member’s house and can only leave the premises during certain hours and with supervision. She must check-in by phone daily with a bail supervisor and is not allowed to contact Stevenson, nor consume any drugs or alcohol, nor possess any firearms.
Stevenson remains in police custody and his soonest opportunity for a bail hearing at the Nelson courthouse is Monday, May 5 at 9:30 a.m.
