Sex offender admits registration breach, no-show
Brandon Burley McLean, 25, AKA Quinn McLean, remanded until December sentencing
An Oromocto resident arrested on an outstanding warrant after they were reported missing to police waived their right to a bail hearing Thursday and admitted to two crimes.
A Fredericton provincial court judge issued an arrest warrant for Brandon Burley McLean, 25, AKA Quinn McLean, after they failed to attend for trial Sept. 26 on a charge of failing to comply with an order under the Sex Offender Information Registration Act (SOIRA).
McLean - who identifies as non-binary - hadn’t shown up to report to the offender registration centre as required between March 1 and April 1, 2022, for an annual check-in.
The offender was arrested on that warrant a couple of weeks ago, and after adjourning their bail hearing a couple of times, the matter was back in provincial court Thursday.
However, McLean opted to waive his right to a bail hearing and pleaded guilty to breaching the SOIRA order and to a newer charge of failing to attend court Sept. 26.
Judge Henrik Tonning remanded McLean pending sentencing, scheduled for Dec. 14. The judge also ordered the preparation of a pre-sentence report.
The RCMP had issued a news release about McLean earlier this month, noting they’d been reported as missing Oct. 5 and that there were concerns for their well-being. The Mounties followed up Oct. 7 that McLean had been found.
The offender was required by a court order to register annually as a sex offender as a result of a conviction for a November 2019 sexual assault.
Don MacPherson can be contacted at ftonindependent@gmail.com.