‘Out-of-control’ teen facing 17 charges denied bail

A Sioux Valley teen who racked up 17 charges over three years was denied bail on Tuesday in Brandon provincial court.

The 19-year-old, who cannot be named because he was a youth at the time of the first set of allegations, faces charges of sexual assault, sexual interference and five weapons-related offences. He is also charged with three counts of uttering threats, possession of an illegal substance, two counts of failing to attend court and four counts of failing to comply with an undertaking.

“I think you’re out of control,” Judge Patrick Sullivan said directly to the teen. “You’re unmanageable in the community.”

Crown attorney Sarah Kok read the details behind the allegations.

Child and Family Services in Sioux Valley Dakota Nation received information in 2023 that a girl had been sexually assaulted.

In a statement, the girl said she was sleeping in her home in Sioux Valley in 2022 when she was woken up at around 5 a.m. by someone rubbing her vagina through her pants.

When the girl opened her eyes, she allegedly identified the teen, since he was friends with her brother.

“(The complainant) would have been 11 years old at the time. (The accused) would have been 16 years old at the time,” Kok said. “He would have been five years older than the victim … a considerable difference in the level of maturity.”

Kok said the matter was originally set down for trial, and the girl was willing to testify if needed but wished that the accused seek some sort of counselling.

For about two years, Kok said, the teen made no attempts to get counselling, failed to attend court and lost contact with his lawyer. Police issued a warrant for his arrest, which was executed when officers found him at the health centre in Sioux Valley on Aug. 14, 2024.

He was released on an undertaking.

Virden RCMP were granted a firearm search warrant for the teen’s residence on Dec. 21, 2024, since they believed there were firearms on the property. When they searched the home, they found a firearm and a magazine modified to hold more ammunition.

Kok said multiple witnesses gave statements to police, including the teen’s sister, who said he and his mother stayed in the bedroom where the firearm was found.

Kok said his sister allegedly saw him drag it through the snow into the residence.

In a statement to police, the teen downplayed his involvement and said he had no idea about the firearm.

“When information is put to him involving his sister, indicating that his sister had seen him with the firearm … he initially changes his attitude and admits that it was his firearm,” she said.

He told police he found the firearm and magazine in the snow but had never fired it.

The teen was arrested, charged and later released by the Crown on several conditions.

On April 5, Virden RCMP received a call from the accused’s grandmother, along with several other family members, who said her grandson was intoxicated and causing a disturbance.

The First Nation Safety Officer who first responded said the teen was heavily intoxicated. The teen was arrested and brought to the Virden RCMP detachment. Throughout his arrest, Kok said the teen allegedly made several detailed threats about killing the chief of Sioux Valley.

Because of these threats, police issued another search warrant for the teen’s residence, and this time found two BB guns and two homemade machetes.

He was arrested but released shortly after.

He again failed to attend court on April 17, and a warrant was issued for his arrest. On May 17, he surrendered to police and had a contested bail hearing in Brandon.

The teen was released again, this time with stricter conditions.

The most recent set of allegations comes from July 3, when the teen’s mother called Virden RCMP and said her son was “suicidal, violent and impaired.”

“Officers arrived on the scene. They learned that (the accused) had run away from the residence and was again impaired,” Kok said.

Police found the accused and detained him under the Intoxicated Persons Detention Act.

Kok said he allegedly refused to give breath samples and threatened to kill a police officer and his family.

Police took the accused to a Virden RCMP cell and when they searched him, they found a small bag of methamphetamine.

Kok said if the accused was released he would pose a risk to the public and may not come back to court.

“(The accused) has had the benefit of release five different occasions,” Kok said. “It appears that he is demonstrating an inability or an unwillingness to follow court-ordered conditions.”

Defence lawyer Bob Harrison argued that the accused was still a candidate for release.

He said the teen should never have taken the gun but that he is still young and made a mistake.

As for the threats he made against the chief and the police officer, Harrison said the teen doesn’t remember saying anything and has no ill will toward either of them.

Harrison presented a bail plan that would have the teen residing in Sioux Valley on a $2,000 promise to pay. He said cash bail was also available. He suggested house arrest with exceptions only for counselling.

Harrison said the accused has prominent Gladue factors, with his mother and grandmother having attended residential school. Additionally, he said he was exposed to violence in the home from a young age.

Sullivan denied the teen’s bail and said he wasn’t confident he would follow conditions.

The teen is presumed innocent at this stage and will appear in court again in August.

» sanderson@brandonsun.com