MacTavish’s arson suspect denied bail

Joshua Daniel Grant Burden, 49, of no fixed address, declines to testify, professes innocence

The unhoused man accused of torching a downtown sporting-goods store will remain in custody pending the conclusion of the prosecutions against him.

A bail hearing for Joshua Daniel Grant Burden, 49, of no fixed address, wrapped up Tuesday after it went off the rails twice before due to profanity-peppered outbursts by the defendant last week.

Joshua Daniel Grant Burden is pictured arriving at the Fredericton courthouse in custody earlier this year. (Photo: Don MacPherson/The Fredericton Independent)

He’s charged with Oct. 29 counts of arson and breach of probation, arising from a fire that damaged MacTavish’s Source of Sports on Queen Street that night.

He’s also accused of uttering threats to cause death and/or bodily harm to Nicolas De L’Eveille and breaching a probation order Oct. 12, and uttering threats to cause death and/or bodily harm to Fredericton police Const. Ryan Preston and breaching his probation Oct. 24.

Evidence presented at Burden’s bail hearing and the reasons for the judge’s decision in the case are subject to a publication ban until the cases against Burden conclude.