Richard Froese
South Peace News
A High Prairie man who admitted setting fire to St. Bernard Catholic Church at Grouard in May 2023 will have to wait for sentencing.
Gerald Kenneth Capot, 52, was scheduled to be sentenced June 12 in the Court of King’s Bench in Peace River on a charge of arson to property of others.
However, Capot failed to attend court. His lawyer immediately withdrew from the case and court issued a warrant for the arrest of Capot, states an email from Court Checks.
Capot pleaded guilty to the charge when he appeared at a trial that started May 21, 2024.
Capot and Kenneth Randy Ferguson were both charged in connection with a fire that heavily damaged the historic church May 22, 2023. It was later demolished.
Ferguson was sentenced to 90 days after pleading guilty May 21 to break-and-enter, Court Checks says. He was 56 at the time charges were laid.
Ferguson was given credit for time already served.
A second charge agaisnt Ferguson of arson to property of others was withdrawn.
Ferguson was also placed on probation for 12 months. During probation, he was ordered to engage with the priest of St. Bernard Church either by writing a letter or engaging a dialogue to express remorse for the incident. In-person dialogue must have prior consent from the priest.
Ferguson was also required to take assessment, counselling or treatment as recommended by probation.
Again, this is not justice! This is a legal system where feral criminals repeatedly win.