Mischief charge against former MP Peter Penashue dismissed after agreeing to peace bond
Penashue says he was angered by drug dealing in Sheshatshiu
A mischief charge against Peter Penashue has been dismissed, after the former MP agreed to a year-long peace bond and the Crown agreed to call no further evidence during a court date on Thursday.
The Innu leader was charged with mischief over $5,000 in March, after smashing out a car's windows outside of a home in Sheshatshiu.
At the time, Penashue said he bought the home for his son and grandchildren but his son relapsed and sold the house to drug dealers for cocaine and cash.
Penashue says the drug dealers moved into the house and began selling drugs from the property.
Video taken at the time and posted on social media showed police leading him away in handcuffs.
"I didn't have any other options," he said Thursday, after having his charge dismissed.
"The band council, who technically is the legal owner of all the homes in the community, could not do anything, did not want to do anything. For whatever reason they just would not take a position. The police were not intervening, to charge all the illegal activity that was taking place. Government wasn't doing anything. No one was doing anything. So I made it my position that I have to do what I can to support my grandkids."
"By agreeing to abide by the court order, Mr. Penashue avoided criminal liability and agreed to keep the peace and be of good behaviour toward and remain away from the complainant," said Crown attorney Jeffrey Wicks in an email to CBC News.
"Public prosecutions takes a firm stance against any form of vigilantism within our communities. The ultimate decision to call no further evidence was made in view of the agreement to enter the recognizance, the likely penal consequence upon conviction, and while considering the public interest in furthering the prosecution."
Penashue was supported in court Thursday by his family and a representative from the Innu communities in Quebec, Guy Bellefleur. Penashue told CBC News the Innu communities in Quebec share similar concerns around drug trafficking.
He said the chiefs from Quebec and Labrador are planning to meet in March to share information and start a conversation on how to stop drug trafficking in their communities — something Penashue says everyone needs to be on the same side to make happen.
"Everyone is frustrated in the community. Elders are frustrated, they're worried, they can't sleep," Penashue said.
He said three of his four children have had trouble with drugs. Two are in recovery and one is in jail. He says that there are others in the community in similar situations who don't know what to do, where to go or who to call.
Penashue and his wife are currently caring for two grandchildren and worry about their future.
"How do we prepare them to avoid that kind of dark side of life," he said. "It's challenging, if I'm thinking about it then there's other parents and grandparents that are thinking about it. We need to have a serious conversation and we need to have everyone working together to push this discussion forward."
He believes that the community needs to take a stronger position against drug trafficking and there need to be stronger enforcement and punishments for drug dealers.
Penashue says the population of Sheshatshiu is growing fast but the community won't have much to look forward to if they can't get a handle on the situation.
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Clarifications
- A previous version of this story said charges against Penashue were withdrawn. While his charges were in fact dropped, it was after he agreed to a 12-month peace bond and the Crown called no further evidence at the trial.Jan 17, 2025 8:59 AM EST
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