Sex offender no-show for trial
Brandon Burley McLean, 25, accused of violating registration order for sexual assault
A Fredericton man scheduled to stand trial Tuesday didn’t attend court as required, and his lawyer told court he’d had no communication with his client.
Brandon Burley McLean, 25, of Regent Street, also known as Quinn McLean, pleaded not guilty this spring in Fredericton provincial court Friday to a criminal charge alleging violated the conditions of a court order imposed on him under the Sex Offender Information Registration Act (SOIRA).
They’re accused of failing to report for an annual check-in at the SOIRA registration centre as required between March 1 and April 1, 2022.
When Judge Cameron Gunn called the case for the scheduled trial Tuesday afternoon, prosecutor Brett Stanford and defence lawyer Edward Derrah were present, but McLean wasn’t.
Derrah said while he’d been assigned McLean’s file, he hadn’t had any contact with the client.
At the Crown’s request, Gunn issued a warrant for McLean’s arrest.
The defendant’s first scheduled appearance on the alleged SOIRA breach was March 20, but they failed to attend court at that time as well.
A warrant was issued for their arrest, but that warrant was later vacated and McLean was released on conditions.
McLean was subject to the registration order as a result of a sexual-assault conviction.
McLean pleaded guilty to a summary sexual assault he committed November 2019.
The identity of his victim in that case is protected by a court-ordered publication ban.
Don MacPherson can be contacted at ftonindependent@gmail.com.