Two others charged in copper theft
RCMP also have accused Kyle Oram, 37, of Clarendon, and Christina London, 30, of Fredericton, with possession of stolen property along with Robert Gordon Joseph King, 36
Editor’s note: The initial version of this story indicated suspect Robert King was coming back to court for a bail hearing. He did not seek a bail hearing, and is scheduled to return to court Feb. 6 for pleas. We regret the error.
Police report two other people are facing stolen-property charges stemming from an investigation into a copper-wiring heist in Clarendon, between Saint John and Fredericton.
The Fredericton Independent reported Thursday that the RCMP charged Robert Gordon Joseph King, 36, of Clarendon, N.B., but formerly of Saskatchewan, with theft of copper wiring valued at more than $5,000, possession of stolen copper wiring, careless storage of a firearm and possession of that firearm (a shotgun) without a licence.
The charges allege offences in Clarendon, about 70 kilometres southeast of Fredericton and 50 km northwest of Saint John, on Wednesday.
However, in a news release issued Friday, the RCMP reported that two other suspects - Kyle Oram, 37, of Route 101 in Clarendon; and Christina London, 30, of Riverside Drive in Fredericton - were also charged in Fredericton provincial court Thursday with related offences stemming from the same investigation.
They’re both accused of possession of stolen property - copper wiring - of a value greater than $5,000 in Clarendon on Wednesday as well.
The Crown objected to their release Thursday, and Judge Mélanie Poirier LeBlanc remanded them. King, Oram and London are set to return to court Monday for bail hearings.
King had opted to forgo a bail hearing for the time being, and he’s due back in court for pleas Feb. 6.
In Friday’s news release, the Grand Bay-Westfield detachment of the RCMP reported that officers received information about “a suspicious truck” on a rural road in Clarendon and indications were that its occupants might be involved in the theft of copper wire.
“The vehicle left the scene and headed towards a residence before police arrived,” it said.
“Shortly after, members of the Grand Bay-Westfield RCMP and two New Brunswick RCMP crime reduction units arrived at the residence. Two individuals were taken into custody without incident.”
About 70 grams of methamphetamine and a small amount of psilocybin (magic mushrooms) were found on those two suspects, the release said, and police observed piles of stolen, burnt metal and copper in the residence.
A third suspect turned himself into the RCMP later in the day Wednesday, it said.
“At approximately 8 p.m. [Wednesday], police executed a search warrant at the same residence and property,” the release said.
“They located and seized the truck that was involved in the incident, approximately 90 kilograms (250 pounds) of copper wire, weapons, a loaded shotgun, two rifles and several break-in instruments.”
Don MacPherson can be contacted at ftonindependent@gmail.com.