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Court

Updates on several court cases

Mar 30, 2026 | 6:00 AM

Dates set for murder trial

Alberta Justice says trial dates have been set after a 2024 murder.

Christopher Valin of Berwyn will stand trial for murder from May 31 to June 18, 2027, in Peace River court of King’s Bench.

He was charged with murder after the body of 54-year-old Wilfred Rever of Manning was found by some hunters on May 25, 2024.

RCMP said at the time that Rever’s body was found in a remote area around Fairview.

Guy Valin of Berwyn was also charged with accessory after the fact and offering an indignity to a body. His trial is set for May 31, 2027.

Brooke Burton of Manning is set to be sentenced on similar charges June 24, 2026.


Trial dates set in Gift Lake murder case

Alberta Justice says trial dates have been set after a 2024 murder at Gift Lake Metis Settlement.

The trial for Dakota Auger will take place May 3-21, 2027, in Peace River Court of King’s Bench.

He is facing a charge of second-degree murder after the death of 41-year-old Bradley Lamouche of  Gift Lake.

High Prairie RCMP said at the time that at around 2 a.m. on August 23, 2024, they got a call about an unresponsive man in a vehicle.


Manslaughter charge upgraded to murder *corrected from an earlier version*

The Crown prosecutor’s office says the charges in a manslaughter case from Peace River have been upgraded.

Kelleo Alook of Peace River had been charged with manslaughter, assault with a weapon, and other firearms-related counts after the death of 35-year-old Anton Vincent Carifelle of McLennan.

The Crown says the manslaughter charge has now been upgraded to second-degree murder. Alook is due back in court on April 2o.

RCMP said at the time that on August 12, 2025, they got a report of someone being shot in downtown Peace River.

The victim was conscious when police arrived and was taken to hospital, but died the next day.

An autopsy confirmed that Carifelle had been shot to death.

Mounties said the man had “injuries consistent with a gunshot wound.”


Peace River man sentenced in two court cases

Alberta Justice says a Peace River man has been sentenced in two different court cases.

Russell William Pasquan was given a 329-day jail sentence after pleading guilty to a charge of possession for the purpose of trafficking. Four other charges were withdrawn.

He was charged after Peace Regional RCMP got a report of a suspicious vehicle on March 24, 2025.

A man was sleeping inside the vehicle. He was given a Mandatory Alcohol Screening test, which he passed.

Soon after, the vehicle was being driven erratically.

The driver was later arrested, and a search of the driver and vehicle turned up a firearm, cocaine, and methamphetamine.

Pasquan was also given concurrent sentences ranging from 148 days to 30 days after pleading guilty to charges of unauthorized possession of a firearm in a motor vehicle, public mischief, and failure to comply charges.

On May 7, 2025, Pasquan and Kaitlin Sinclair of Peace River were arrested after a Peace Regional RCMP member noticed a driver they knew was under a curfew.

Mounties found a sawed-off shotgun in the vehicle.

Sinclair pleaded guilty to a charge of taking a motor vehicle without consent in February 2026 and was given 12 months probation.


Second person sentenced after church arson

Alberta Justice says a second person has been sentenced after a 2023 church fire in Grouard was ruled an arson.

Gerald Capot of High Prairie was given a year in jail and a one-year Conditional Sentence Order in Peace River court.

He had earlier pleaded guilty to a charge of arson – property of others.

He and another man, Kenneth Ferguson, also of High Prairie, were arrested after a fire at the 121-year-old St. Bernard Catholic Church in Grouard on May 22, 2023.

Ferguson had earlier pleaded guilty to a charge of break and enter to commit theft and was given a sentence of 90 days in jail, time served, and one year probation.


Jail sentence in Grande Prairie gun case

Alberta Justice says a Hythe man has been given jail time after police seized a loaded, stolen handgun after a traffic stop.

Justin Reneau was given a 600-day sentence after pleading guilty to possession of a prohibited or restricted firearm, plus a 180-day concurrent sentence after pleading guilty to a charge of careless use or storage of a firearm. Two other charges were withdrawn.

Grande Prairie RCMP said on May 31, 2025, members did a traffic stop on a vehicle with no daytime running lights. Mounties arrested the two people inside after seeing unstamped tobacco. A search turned up the handgun.

Charges against the second man charged, Gordon Rawlyk, were withdrawn last July.

Reneau was also given a consecutive sentence of 90 days after pleading guilty to a charge of shopbreaking with intent. He also pleaded guilty to a second count of theft over $5,000 and was given a concurrent 60-day sentence.


Jail time given out in stolen vehicle investigation

Alberta Justice says a Grande Prairie man has been given a total of two years in jail after a stolen vehicle investigation in Peace River, during which there were near-collisions with RCMP vehicles.

Tyler Wayne Roherty pleaded guilty to charges of dangerous operation of a vehicle, possession of stolen property over $5,000, operating a vehicle while prohibited, and failure to comply with a probation order. Two other charges were withdrawn.

Peace Regional RCMP said at the time they were able to get into the vehicle’s GPS system, and find out where it was located. The vehicle was being driven very fast and nearly hit some RCMP members.

Police located the vehicle near Dixonville. Mounties tracked the driver to a nearby field.


CSO in High Level drug, unstamped tobacco arrest

Alberta Justice says the accused in a 2025 drug and unstamped tobacco arrest in High Level has been given a two-year Conditional Sentence Order.

Joanne Bulldog will serve a two-year sentence in the community after pleading guilty to a charge of possession for the purpose of trafficking. A second charge related to selling unstamped cigarettes was withdrawn.

High Level RCMP said at the time an investigation started on February 24, 2025, after the public reported to police that someone was selling crack in downtown High Level.

High Level RCMP and the ALERT team in Grande Prairie searched a property in High Level on May 1, 2025.

They seized 84 individual packages of cocaine, 940 unstamped cigarettes, more than $1,300 cash, and what they believed to be accounting papers related to selling drugs.

CSO sentences are served in the community and are subject to several conditions.


Charges withdrawn in fraud, identity theft case

Alberta Justice says charges against the three people charged in a fraud and identity theft investigation have been withdrawn.

Mary Estelle of no fixed address, Dylan Sutton of Grande Prairie and Dwayne Olson of Hythe were all charged after an April 20, 2025, arrest.

Grande Prairie RCMP said at the time they located a vehicle with a license plate that turned out to be stolen.

Further investigation found that the same vehicle had been bought with a fraudulent loan that was given based on a stolen identity.