Author: Jenny Hagan westcentralonline.com
A Saskatoon man with a violent past — including a high-profile kidnapping conviction — is now facing more than 100 new charges as police continue to investigate a growing GPS tracker harassment case that has identified at least 23 victims.
Marty Schira, 46, appeared by phone in Saskatoon Provincial Court on Tuesday, where Crown prosecutor Christy Pannell confirmed the expanded list of charges. They include mischief, harassment, intimidation, fraudulent use of a computer system, and fraudulent concealment of a computer system.
The investigation began on Sept. 6, 2024, when a member of the public reported finding two GPS trackers on their vehicle at the Saskatoon Police Service Centre. A search warrant was later executed at an apartment on the 2000 block of 20th Street West, where officers discovered several more trackers. Police say at least six devices have been recovered so far, but there may be more yet to be found.
Saskatoon Police Service (SPS) say the trackers are typically wrapped in black tape and often hidden in a vehicle’s fender. Anyone who finds a suspicious device is asked not to remove or tamper with it but instead bring the vehicle to a police station for examination.
Schira’s criminal history stretches back more than two decades. In 2004, he was convicted of kidnapping and sexually assaulting a woman after abducting her at gunpoint in Rosetown in 2003 and holding her captive for two days in his Calgary apartment. He was initially sentenced to 14 years in prison, later reduced to 13 years on appeal.
While in custody, Schira was assessed by a psychologist who found him to be at a moderate to high risk of reoffending sexually and a low to moderate risk of reoffending violently.
His GPS-related case was adjourned until May 6 to allow for additional disclosure. He remains in custody.
Police are continuing their investigation and are urging the public to check their vehicles for any suspicious tracking devices. If a tracker is found, it should be reported to the police immediately.
