No-show drug dealer arrested, remanded
Christopher James Arbeau, 45, failed to attend court last week for sentencing
A Fredericton man who skipped his sentencing hearing on drug-trafficking charges last month is in custody, where he’ll remain until his new sentencing date.
Christopher James Arbeau, 45, of Paul Street, pleaded guilty in Fredericton provincial court earlier this year to three counts of possessing illicit, hard drugs for the purpose of trafficking.
He was supposed to be sentenced for those and other crimes Sept. 25, but he didn’t show up for the hearing.
Judge Scott Brittain issued a warrant for his arrest.
Arbeau was back before provincial court this week, this time in custody, after that warrant was executed last week.
He was scheduled to go through a bail hearing Tuesday, but he waived his right to bail and was remanded pending sentencing.
The charges were back before Brittain on Thursday morning, but there was also a new count before the court.
Arbeau pleaded guilty to a Sept. 25 charge of failing to attend court.
Defence lawyer Edward Derrah said he and his client had hoped to proceed to sentencing Thursday, but court heard prosecutor Brett Stanford wasn’t prepared for that, as another Crown had handled the file previously.
Brittain adjourned the sentencing hearing to Oct. 12 and remanded Arbeau again until that time.
When Arbeau pleaded guilty to the main charges earlier this year, court heard members of the Fredericton Police Force’s drug section witnessed Arbeau trafficking in drugs on two occasions: Jan. 19, 2021, and Sept. 29, 2021.
On the second occasion, Arbeau was selling meth in front of River Stone Recovery Centre, an addictions treatment clinic in downtown Fredericton.
Both times, officers arrested him and found drugs and cash on his person.
Don MacPherson can be contacted at ftonindependent@gmail.com.