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WEDNESDAY
August 11, 2010
24
The Coquitlam Express are launching a range of hockey programs this summer.
Your source for local news, sports, weather and entertainment. www.thenownews.com
Aleksandr Plehanov
Plehanov facing fifth charge Exclusive
NOW
Former substitute teacher Aleksandr Plehanov is now facing one more charge of sexual interference of a person under 16, for a total of five counts. The 35-year-old was arrested in March for allegedly touching seven- and eight-year-old girls in School District 43. Three charges stem from March 10, 2010, allegations, and a fourth charge dates back to Oct. 13, 2009. Now a fifth charge has been laid against the Burnaby man related to an alleged incident in January 2008. Plehanov appeared in Port Coquitlam provincial court Tuesday morning and entered not guilty pleas to all five counts. He also entered a not guilty plea to a charge of criminal harassment. This charge followed an arrest in early June for allegedly breaching the conditions of his previous release, which included staying away from schools, daycares, swimming pools, playgrounds, skating rinks and recreation centres. He was also prohibited from carrying weapons, working or CONT. ON PAGE 4, see PLEHANOV.
Kevin Hill/NOW
ACTING OUT: Jennifer Edwards, Russ Brummer and Nathan Kelly will perform at a new arts festival starting Friday in PoCo. See story, Page 10.
Crackdown on scrap metal thieves? PoCo considers getting tough on those who steal copper and other materials restrict dealers from buying scrap metal from minors or from anyone who appears to be intoxicated by drugs or alcohol. Those who break the bylaw, if it passes, could face fines ranging from $1,000 to $10,000, plus the cost of prosecution. According to a staff report, “The recent arrival in Port Coquitlam of a scrap metal and battery recycler makes the adoption of a specific scrap metal bylaw a matter of increased priority.” Bylaw services manager Dan Scoones said the city has a generic secondhand dealers bylaw that was adopted in 1979, but the new bylaw would be more comprehensive and would focus on scrap metal. He said scrap metal theft has been a problem in PoCo, even in his own neighbourhood where metal letters were stolen off a development sign.
Stories by Jennifer McFee jmcfee@thenownews.com Metal thieves may have a tougher time selling their stash in Port Coquitlam if the city proceeds with plans to regulate scrap metal dealers. Council will consider a proposed bylaw that would impose more stringent regulations on scrap metal dealers, based on a Surrey bylaw enacted in May. Surrey scrap metal dealers must maintain a register of transactions, record sellers’ contact information and keep purchased metals for at least one week. As well, dealers are not allowed to buy materials if serial numbers or other identifying marks have been removed. In Port Coquitlam, the proposed bylaw would also
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“I can’t imagine being a scrap metal dealer and somebody comes in with the letters,” Scoones said. “I mean, where does a guy riding a bicycle or pushing a shopping cart get the letters ‘L,’ ‘O’ and ‘T’? Under what circumstances are they surplus to his needs? Where did he get them? But those questions don’t get asked, apparently.” The proposed bylaw is an attempt to set some limits in the industry, Scoones added. “We want them to pay by cheque, for instance, on certain things, and you’ve got to come in a vehicle. You can’t come rolling in with a shopping cart,” he said. “Those are things that came up to be a good idea.” Telus spokesperson Shawn Hall said this type CONTINUED ON PAGE 4, see ‘IT GIVES POLICE A TOOL.’
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