Judge throws out Bear Dude's pot charges
By Mona Mattei
A court ruling released last week dropped drug charges against Christina Lake resident, Allen Piche because of inconsistencies in RCMP testimony and evidence.
Piche, also known as the ‘Bear Dude’ fined in May 2012 for two counts of feeding up to 24 bears on his property, was waiting for a decision for charges of production of marijuana for the purposes of trafficking since 2010.
“It is a relief that it’s over,” said Piche. “I am disappointed that the justice system can take the tack that the end justifies the means – it’s not a good process.”
Defence counsel Jessie Gelber argued that conflicting testimony between RCMP constables, the pilot and the photos taken during a surveillance flight that allegedly identified the grow op made the process questionable. In his court appearance earlier this year, Gelber said that the information to obtain a warrant on which the RCMP got approval for their search of the property was based on inconsistent information.
“We have the unique advantage of knowing that the JJP (justice of the peace who issued the warrant) was misled,” said Gelber in his submission.
Piche had also been facing the loss of his 80-acre property to B.C. Civil Forfeiture since he, “had engaged in illegal activities.” But Piche told the Sentinel that he has worked out an agreement to keep his land.
Last summer, an accidental fire burned Piche’s house to the ground. He intends to return to his property next summer with hopes to rebuild his home.
“It’s going to be long slow start – it’s just a big pile of rubble and ash,” said Piche. “I’m now writing a book on my experiences and that’s taking a lot of my time.”
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