Murderer pleads guilty in confiscated pork chop riot at Calgary Remand Centre

A confiscated pork chop wasthe motive behind a 2014 Calgary Remand Centre riot that caused $10,000 in damages to the jail's high-security unit, court heard on Monday.

What was supposed to be a two-day trial on a charge of mischief causing damage over $5,000turned into a guilty plea as Mitchell Harkes admitted his role in the riotMonday afternoonin Alberta provincial court.

ProsecutorDevenSinghalsaid charges will be stayed against Harkes' co-accused,Scott Ferguson.

The riot broke out around 9 p.m. on Nov. 22, 2014 when anotherinmate, JeffreyMcPherson,got angry that guards confiscated pork chops and rice he'd been hiding in his cell while he was at court, according toSinghal.

• Calgary murderer bruised in riot sues province, jail guard for $50K

Harkes is serving a life sentence for the murder of Brett Wiese at a party in 2013. Fergusongoes on trial in February in the stabbing death of his girlfriend, Susan Rae Elko.

Other criminalscharged

Last weekMcPhersonpleaded guilty and receiveda 12-month sentence on top of the time he's already serving for the fatal shooting of a homeowner during a botched robbery.

CoryMaennchen, the assistant deputy director at the Remand Centre, testified he tried to deescalate the situation, but eventually called in the tactical team to break up the riot.

During the kerfuffle, windows were smashed.a tablewas broken and damage was caused by a fire lit by inmates using a pillowcase.

Initially, a total of nine people were charged, including other high-profile.

• Real HonorioServing sentence for murder.Riot charge stayed.
• Kyle Ledesma Serving sentence formurder. Riot charge stayed.
• Trong NguyenFaces conspiracy to commit murder charge. Riot charge stayed.
• Christopher Brian Richards Serving sentence for manslaughter. Riot charge stayed.
• Raymond Troy Jacobson Died so riot charge was dropped.
• Jeffery McPhearsonServing sentence for manslaughter. Pleaded guilty toriot charge last week.
• Jason WilkeningFacingdrugs and weapons charges.Will plead guilty tomischief charge in January.

Kyle Ledesma is suing the province and one of the guards for bruises he claims to have sustained in the fight.

Singhal and defence lawyer Eleanor Funk will make sentencing submissions on Wednesday.