Shale gas protester pleads guilty to uttering threats, assault

A police vehicle is seen in Rexton, N.B. as police began enforcing an injunction to end an ongoing demonstration against shale gas exploration in eastern New Brunswick on Thursday, Oct.17, 2013. (Andrew Vaughan / THE CANADIAN PRESS)

MONCTON, N.B. -- The RCMP say a New Brunswick man charged following anti-fracking protests has been given a conditional sentence and ordered to stay away from future shale gas demonstrations in the province.

Police say James Pictou pleaded guilty Tuesday in Moncton provincial court to charges of uttering threats, uttering threats against a police dog, obstructing a police officer, assaulting a police officer with a weapon, breaching an undertaking and two counts of mischief.

The 47-year-old man from Saint-Andre-de-Madawaska was arrested Oct. 17 after an anti-shale gas protest along Route 134 near Rexton turned violent.

The RCMP say he was also charged in connection with an incident on July 30 on the Elsipogtog First Nation.

In a second case, the RCMP say additional charges were laid Wednesday against 21-year-old Germain Breau of Upper Rexton after he was arrested Oct. 17 at the protest near Rexton.

He has been in custody since his arrest and is facing five counts each of assaulting a police officer and pointing a firearm at police, carrying a weapon to a public meeting, possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose, possessing a firearm without a permit, and three counts of uttering threats against police.

Police say Pictou, who had been in custody since his arrest, was sentenced to time already served, plus three months house arrest followed by two years of supervised probation.

The Mounties say Pictou must also remain one kilometre away from employees and equipment belonging to SWN Resources and its subcontractors, among other conditions.

Police say he was also ordered to remain in New Brunswick but is not permitted to be in Kent County.