Judge denies bail to accused in Strathclair hotel robbery

A Brandon judge denied a man’s bail after he allegedly robbed a Strathclair hotel of more than $5,000 while armed with bear spray.

Styles Hotain, 21, made an unsuccessful bid for bail in provincial court Thursday. Hotain is charged with robbery with a weapon, possessing a weapon for a dangerous purpose, disobeying a court order and several counts of breaching a probation order.

The Crown opposed Hotain’s release, citing concerns for public safety and his willingness to comply with court orders, while defence argued the proposed bail plan, which included an ankle monitor, would manage any risk Hotain poses.

Crown attorney Reid Girard detailed the allegations.

Yellowhead RCMP received a report of an armed robbery at the Strathclair Hotel at around 10 p.m. on Aug. 2, 2025.

Court heard security cameras captured a man entering the bar area, carrying what appeared to be a large can of bear spray, and demanding money. More than $5,000 was stolen from the cash register, along with money from the VLTs that an employee was counting.

The man left the hotel on foot.

Reid described the man in the video as wearing a dark coat with reflective striping, with a hood pulled over his head and a facial covering. He said the man was “heavy set” with long hair and a tattoo under his eye.

The video footage didn’t produce a clear picture, and while he wasn’t identified by staff, they told police they recognized the man as a regular at the bar and he had been there earlier that day, Girard said.

The next day, Girard said police received higher quality video surveillance.

“They reviewed the clip and noted the facial and wrist tattoo that Styles Hotain is known to have,” the Crown said.

“(An officer) recognized Hotain, as his hood is slipped back away from his face briefly as he’s brandishing what appears to be bear spray while taking bottles of liquor from the shelf of the bar.”

Police knew that Hotain was living in Strathclair at the time and believed it was him who committed the robbery, court heard.

When they went to the residence he was living at, police saw a pair of yellow rain pants in the yard. Girard said police noted that the man in the video was also wearing yellow rain pants.

Police couldn’t find Hotain, so they issued a warrant for his arrest.

On Aug. 9, Yellowhead RCMP were notified that Hotain was in custody in Minnedosa.

Prior to being charged in connection with the armed robbery, Hotain had been in and out of custody for allegedly breaching his probation order by repeatedly not reporting to probation services as directed.

Girard said although Hotain’s criminal record isn’t particularly long, it’s “related and concerning.”

“I would suggest that it shows this is a young man who has quickly spiralled into a worrying pattern of criminal behaviour,” he said. “The Crown is concerned that this spiralling pattern of behaviour is going to continue.”

Girard said theoretically, bail conditions could be crafted to address the Crown’s concern for the public’s safety, but the allegations against Hotain show “court orders mean very little to him.”

Defence lawyer Owen Javra proposed a bail plan that would have his client live with his father in Winnipeg under a 7 p.m. to 6 a.m. curfew. He said Hotain would only be released from custody to his father once he receives his ankle monitor from a Manitoba Commissioner designate.

“The ankle monitor is an added benefit to the plan in that it would be able to detect if he’s out past his curfew,” he said.

He said his father would act as a surety, pledging $5,000 to the court if Hotain breaches his conditions.

Javra also pointed out issues that may arise if the matter is taken to trial, including identification.

“At this point, we have no actual surveillance video … In none of the photos does it actually show that tattoos. It shows just a man with his face covered.”

While sharing some of Hotain’s personal circumstances, Javra said Hotain comes from a “long line of residential school survivorship,” was exposed to alcohol abuse early in life and was placed in the care of Child and Family Services when he was around 10 years old.

Judge Shauna Hewitt-Michta said the bail plan was thoughtful, and while there is some value to ankle monitoring, it’s not “foolproof” and didn’t address her biggest concern, which is the risk he poses to the public.

“I have every expectation that if I release him on bail, even with ankle monitoring, that just as he’s done in the past, he’s going to ignore the release order and reoffend,” she said.

The lawyers have scheduled a pre-trial conference to discuss Hotain’s case in February.

» sanderson@brandonsun.com