Brian Paré, arrested last week for allegedly lighting forest fires around Chibougamau this summer, now faces nine additional charges, including starting arson in Chapais.
These charges were added Monday morning as the 37-year-old man returned to court at the Roberval courthouse.
The new indictment — which contains a total of 11 counts — shows that Brian Paré is facing justice for forest fires lit in Chibougamau and Chapais, two areas of Nord-du-Québec that were prey to flames last summer. Chibougamau residents even had to be evacuated on June 6 and were only able to return home a week later, on June 12.
We do not yet know which of the numerous fires that raged in the area are blamed on Brian Paré. In a press release released last Thursday, the Sûreté du Québec specified that its investigation is still ongoing “to determine whether or not the fires started by the suspect led to the evacuations of Chibougamau residents at the beginning of summer 2023.”
In addition to being accused of having set fire to the forests of Chapais on May 31 and June 1, Brian Paré is accused of having lit “intentionally or without worrying about the consequences of his act”, six forest fires in Chibougamau between June 1st and September 5th.
He is also accused of setting fire to a fishing cabin and a house, and of committing a public nuisance “which endangered the life, safety, or health” of the population.
During the man’s appearance by videoconference Monday morning, the Crown prosecutor, Me Marie-Philippe Charron, opposed his release. Brian Paré, who has numerous criminal records, has been detained since his arrest last Thursday. He listened, looking dazed, to the hearing which was taking place remotely for him.
His lawyer, Me Jean Girard, told the judge that he had not received all the evidence that the Crown has against his client. Thus, his hearing for release will take place next Monday.
To watch on video
2023-09-11 20:25:37
#accusations #alleged #forest #arsonist
