‘Jig is up,’ judge tells woman in failed bid for release

A provincial court judge told a Brandon woman accused of stealing from various retailers and skipping her court dates over a two-year span that the “jig is up” before denying her bail on Friday.

“It’s time to face the music and set some trial dates,” Judge Shauna Hewitt-Michta said in court while speaking via teleconference with the 29-year-old woman, who was held in custody at the Brandon police station.

Gina Schnake has been charged with five counts of theft under $5,000 and five counts of failing to attend court for offences that occurred between May 2024 and June 2026.

In the first incident on May 22, 2024, Schnake is alleged to have stolen from Shoppers Drug Mart on 18th Street before fleeing in a taxi, Crown attorney Yaso Mathu said.

Police located the taxi and arrested Schnake. The accused has no criminal record, so the theft charge was initially referred to diversion — an alternative court process dealing with minor or non-violent charges — but Schnake didn’t complete the recommended treatment or programming.

The Crown authorized the charge and police later issued a warrant for her arrest after being unable to locate her for months, Mathu said.

She was arrested seven months later for allegedly stealing nearly $1,000 at Winners in Brandon’s Corral Centre. Police received a call on Dec. 23, 2024 from the store manager who reported two women had stolen merchandise a month prior.

Police identified one of the suspects as Schnake, but were unable to find her, so officers issued another warrant, Mathu said.

On April 14, 2025, Schnake was allegedly caught stealing about $37 worth of groceries from Superstore in Brandon.

“She’s seen on video concealing the items in her purse as she travels around the store,” Mathu said.

“Attending the point-of-sale area, she pays for the milk she selected, but … makes no attempt to pay for the other items that she knowingly had concealed in her possession.”

Schnake was confronted by staff outside the store and surrendered the items before leaving the area, Mathu said.

Police arrested her nearby and she was released on an undertaking with a notice to appear in court about a week later, but she allegedly didn’t show up.

On April 30, 2025, police were called to the Travelodge by Wyndham Brandon on 18th Street North for a report of a stolen wallet.

Mathu said Schnake was having drinks with a former co-worker at the hotel. The man had placed his wallet, which included his driver’s licence, credit cards and cash, on the microwave stand.

When he momentarily turned away, Schnake allegedly took the wallet and told him she was going out for a smoke break. When she didn’t return 10 minutes later, the man noticed his wallet had disappeared and called police.

The accused is alleged to have failed to attend court in May and June of last year before she was charged with stealing from Heritage Co-op in Brandon, Mathu said.

The store manager reported a woman had stolen $50 worth of product on Feb. 2, 2026 and police identified the suspect as Schnake through video footage, Mathu said.

She was arrested in April and released with a notice to appear in court. Mathu said she missed her appearance and was arrested and released again with a new court date that she subsequently missed in June.

The Crown opposed Schnake’s release on bail with concerns she would fail to show up for her future court dates.

“Nothing can stop her, even court appearances, and she’s been given the benefit of release so many times now,” Mathu said.

“Ms. Schnake needs to be held to account and to come to court. Otherwise, she’s only going to keep not coming to court and continually reoffending.”

Defence lawyer Bob Harrison said his client has not been involved in any violent offending and proposed a bail plan with conditions she would reside in Brandon, make a cash deposit of $200, report to police and promise to appear in court.

Hewitt-Michta emphasized Schnake has pending theft charges since November 2024 that have not been dealt with because she has been “unwilling” to attend court.

“None of the thefts is particularly serious standing alone, and she has no criminal record, but the accumulation now of 10 charges over a two-and-a-half-year period compounds the seriousness of the situation,” she said.

Schnake’s next court date is scheduled for Sept. 24.

None of allegations have been tested in court.

» tadamski@brandonsun.com