RCMP have charged two men in after a break-and-enter in Pleasant River. (Vlad Vasnetsov via Pixabay)

Two men are facing multiple charges after a break-in at a home in Pleasant River on May 31.

Queens District RCMP say they’ve charged Devon Matthew James Kanne, 34, of Danesville, with breaking and entering and committing. He has been released on conditions and will appear in Bridgewater provincial court on Aug. 13.

Michael Gerald Wentzell, 32, of Italy Cross, is charged with:

• Breaking and entering with intent
• Uttering threats against a person
• Assault with a weapon
• Possession of property obtained by crime less than or equal to $5,000
• Three counts of failure to comply with probation order (three counts)
• Two counts of possession of a prohibited weapon knowing its possession is unauthorized 
• Two counts of possession of a prohibited weapon for dangerous purpose

Wentzell appeared in Bridgewater provincial court on June 2 and was released on conditions. He’s scheduled to be back in court on June 25.

Police say they responded to a break-and-enter at a home on Old Chelsea Road at about 8 p.m. on May 31. They were told a man broke into the home wielding a knife.

The homeowner confronted the man, who threatened the owner. The homeowner then left the residence and called police.

The suspect fled the scene in an SUV driven by another man.

About 45 minutes later, Lunenburg District RCMP stopped the vehicle in Hebbville. The driver, who was the only person in the vehicle, was arrested.

The other man alleged to have broken into the home was found walking along Hwy. 208 near Crouse Road and arrested at about 9:30 p.m. by Queens District RCMP. 

RCMP say they recovered the stolen property and nobody was injured.

Email: rickconradqccr@gmail.com

Charges have been laid in last spring’s Barrington Lake wildfire. (Communications Nova Scotia photo)

By Rick Conrad

A 22-year-old Shelburne County man has been charged in last year’s historic Barrington Lake wildfire.

Dalton Clark Stewart, of Villagedale, was charged under the Forests Act on Wednesday. He is accused of lighting a fire on private land without permission, failing to take reasonable efforts to prevent the spread of a fire and leaving a fire unattended.

Stewart is scheduled to appear in Shelburne provincial court on March 7.

These are not criminal charges. Police have said they don’t plan to pursue criminal charges in the wildfires. The Nova Scotia Department of Natural Resources and Renewables investigated and laid the charges.

In a news release Thursday, the department said it is still investigating the wildfire in Tantallon last spring. It has two years from the date of an offence to lay charges.

The maximum penalties under the Forests Act are a $50,000 fine and/or six months in jail.

The Barrington Lake wildfire began on May 26 and burned 23,379 hectares. It was declared under control on June 13. The Tantallon wildfire began May 28 and burned 969 hectares. It was declared under control June 4. Both fires were extinguished on July 26.

The Barrington Lake fire forced the evacuation of more than 6,000 people and destroyed 60 homes and cottages, as well as 150 other buildings. The Tantallon fire razed 151 homes and forced more than 16,000 residents to flee the area.

The wildfire that spread through Shelburne County was the worst in the province’s recorded history.

Email: rickconradqccr@gmail.com