Half of the charges laid against former North Bay deputy mayor Sheldon Forgette relating to two separate incidents this past Thanksgiving weekend have been dropped in Ontario Court of Justice proceedings.
Citing "no reasonable prospect of conviction," the Crown withdrew three charges: one count of assault and two counts of mischief to property under $5000.
Forgette still faces three charges: one count each of assault, forcible confinement, and failing to comply with an undertaking. The Crown has elected to proceed summarily on all three remaining counts.
Shawn Hamilton is the counsel of record for Forgette. Justice Erin Lainevool heard in court on Tuesday that a judicial pre-trial meeting is scheduled for Monday, Jan. 16, 2023. A pre-trial conference is a meeting addressing the case management and potential resolutions between the judge, Crown Attorney, and the lawyer(s) for the accused (or the person charged if not represented by a lawyer). The matter is to then appear on Jan. 17, 2023, before Justice Lainevool in case management court.
See related: Former deputy mayor arrested twice over Thanksgiving weekend
According to court documents, Forgette was arrested on both Sunday, Oct. 9, and Monday, Oct. 10.
The former deputy mayor initially faced five charges, including two each for assault and mischief under $5,000 plus one for forcible confinement for the Oct. 10 arrest and was subsequently arrested the following day and charged with failing to comply with the undertaking associated with his release on the first five charges. He was then released on a separate undertaking with conditions on Oct. 12.
None of the charges have been proven in a court of law and Forgette maintained his innocence in the wake of the incidents in October.
See: Allegations 'categorically false' says Forgette
Forgette's arrest came less than two weeks before the Oct. 24 municipal election in which he was attempting a political comeback. North Bay's deputy mayor from 2014–18, Forgette finished third in the mayoral race in 2018 and 22nd out of 29 city council candidates this fall.
"I'm completely heartbroken by these allegations two weeks before the election," said Forgette in response to the charges. "These allegations are categorically false and I will be defending myself. People who know me, know that I do not believe in violence, nor condone it."
