Trial date set for man charged in N.B. shale gas protest

MONCTON, N.B. – A trial has been set for Jan. 24 for a New Brunswick man charged after a shale gas protest in Rexton that turned violent.

RCMP say 56-year-old Frederic Robichaud of Aldouane pleaded not guilty to charges of assaulting a police officer and resisting arrest Monday in Moncton provincial court.

Two other men facing charges in the same incident in October also made court appearances.

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Police say 31-year-old Nikiea Augustine of Indian Island, N.B., and 22-year-old Marc Bernard of Cocagne, N.B., were ordered to return to court on Jan. 30.

READ MORE: $4M spent on policing shale gas protests was necessary, says N.B. finance minister

Augustine is charged with mischief and break of an undertaking.

Police say Bernard is also charged with mischief in connection with the October protest, as well as breach of an undertaking in November.

They say a fourth man, 50-year-old Audie Fleury of Ottawa, did not attend his court appearance on a charge of resisting arrest.

Police say a warrant has been issued for his arrest.