Sex-crime suspect denied state-funded counsel
Lance Thomas Sappier, 29, of Fredericton, says legal aid rejected his request for representation; judge dismisses court application for lack of detailed financial information
A Fredericton man who says he’s been unable to get legal representation for his upcoming trial on sex-related charges involving a minor saw his bid for state-funded counsel rejected Thursday.
Lance Thomas Sappier, 29, of Saunders Street, is scheduled to stand trial in provincial court Sept. 4 and 5 on serious, indictable charges alleging he communicated online with a minor for the purpose of committing a sexual offence, invited that child to touch themselves for a sexual purpose with a hairbrush, and exposed his genitals to the same victim between Dec. 27, 2015, and Dec. 26, 2018.
He has told court he can’t afford to hire a lawyer and that his application for legal aid was denied, as was his appeal of that decision.
As a result, he sought to have a judge order the provincial Attorney General’s Office to appoint and pay for defence counsel through what’s called a Rowbotham application - so named for the higher-court precedent that established the procedure.