Perp admits to Hanwell church break-in
Arthur Fernando Rocha, 56, of Fredericton, has been in custody since arrest in March 2024
A Fredericton man who previously insisted police were railroading him on break-and-enter charges and insisted on a superior-court trial pleaded guilty to several offences in provincial court Wednesday.
Arthur Fernando Rocha, 56, of Woodstock Road, appeared in Fredericton provincial court by telephone from the Saint John Regional Correctional Centre on Wednesday, scheduled for election and pleas on several indictable charges.
On hand in the courtroom was his recently assigned defence counsel, Fredericton lawyer Shane Hill.
Rocha faced a Dec. 12, 2023, count of break and enter into twins Pizza in Minto, and March 16, 2024, counts of break, enter and theft at St. James Presbyterian Church in Hanwell, assault and assault with a weapon (a crowbar) on an RCMP officer, resisting arrest and possession of break-in instruments.
