Sudbury OPP Solve Rash of Break and Enters in French River

FRENCH RIVER – Across Ontario, the Ontario Provincial Police work to make our communities safer. In recent months, numerous Break and Enters (B&E’s) have been reported to the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) Sudbury Detachment. Most of the B&E’s occurred in the Municipality of French River, Ontario, where the suspects targeted seasonal residences.

Members of the OPP Organized Crime Enforcement Bureau (OCEB) – Community Street Crime Unit (CSCU) along with the Sudbury Detachment Crime Unit conducted the investigation with the assistance of Sudbury Detachment members and North East Region Emergency Response Team (ERT) members.

The following persons, all from French River, Ontario, have been charged:

Benjamin TAGGART, 50 years of age, was charged with:

1. Possession of Property Obtained by Crime Under $5000 contrary to section 354(1)(a) of the Criminal Code (CC) x 15;
2. Possession of Property Obtained by Crime Over $5000 contrary to section 354(1)(a) of the CC;
3. Trafficking in Property Obtained by Crime contrary to section 355.2 of the CC;
4. Unauthorized Possession of a Weapon – contrary to section 91(2) of the CC;
5. Break, Enter a place – with Intent to Commit an Indictable Offence contrary to section 348(1)(a) of the CC x 2;
6. Possession of a Schedule I Substance – Opioid (Other than Heroin) contrary to section 4(1) of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (CDSA); and
7. Possession of a Schedule I Substance – Methamphetamine contrary to section 4(1) of the CDSA.

Steven BAZINET, 36 years of age, was charged with:

1. Possession of Property Obtained by Crime Under $5000 contrary to section 354(1)(a) of the CC x 4;
2. Unauthorized Possession of a Weapon contrary to section 91(2) of the CC;
3. Possession of Schedule I Substance – Opioid (Other than Heroin) contrary to section 4(1) of the CDSA; and
4. Possession of Schedule I Substance – Methamphetamine contrary to section 4(1) of the CDSA.

Brandon BAZINET, 21 years of age, was charged with:

1. Possession of Property Obtained by Crime Over $5000 contrary to section 354(1)(a) of the CC; and
2. Theft Over $5000 contrary to section 334(a) of the CC.

Norman LEFEBVRE, 60 years of age, was charged with:

1. Possession of Property Obtained by Crime Under $5000 contrary to section 354(1)(a) of the CC x 11;
2. Possession of Property Obtained by Crime Over $5000 contrary to section 354(1)(a) of the CC; and
3. Break, Enter a place – with Intent to Commit an Indictable Offence contrary to section 348(1)(a) of the CC x 2.

The OPP recovered numerous stolen items including vehicles, boat motors, power tools, hand tools, machinery, sports equipment, hunting equipment and household items. Many of the recovered items have now been returned to the victims.

The accused persons are scheduled to appear before the Ontario Court of Justice in Sudbury, Ontario, on January 23, 2019.

Any person with information regarding these crimes should immediately contact the Ontario Provincial Police at 1-888-310-1122 or their nearest police authority.

Should you wish to remain anonymous, you may call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) or submit information online at www.sudburycrimestoppers.com where you may be eligible to receive a cash reward of up to $2000.