Ponoka man's robbery charge withdrawn, break-and-enter trial set for Oct. 23
Alberta prosecutors dropped a 2024 armed robbery charge against a Ponoka man, citing insufficient evidence, but a separate break-in case against him is heading to trial.
The Alberta Crown Prosecution Service has withdrawn a robbery charge against Daryl Huff, 36, of Ponoka, more than two years after the alleged offence. The charge was formally withdrawn on July 10, 2026, with the Crown stating there was insufficient evidence to proceed to trial.
The robbery charge stemmed from an incident on Sept. 20, 2024, when Ponoka RCMP responded to a report that a man armed with a knife had entered a downtown Ponoka business and demanded money from the till before fleeing. Police later obtained DNA evidence that led to an identification match and an arrest warrant for the suspect.
Before Huff was located, a second incident occurred on May 17, 2026, when a man allegedly broke into a Ponoka residence while the homeowner was home, fleeing after a brief confrontation. Ponoka RCMP arrested Huff seven days later during a routine patrol, charging him with both robbery and break-and-enter.
While the robbery charge has been withdrawn, Huff still faces one count of house breaking with intent tied to the May incident. He is scheduled for trial at Wetaskiwin Court of Justice on Oct. 23, 2026.
Compiled by the Alberta Daily Desk — an AI-written summary of reporting from the credited sources below, produced and reviewed under our editorial policy.