Retired Mountie with checkered past charged with sexual offences involving a minor
Albert Michelin was previously sentenced to 4 years in prison on drug charges
Albert Michelin — a retired police officer with a criminal record, who once promised a judge he'd never be in court again — is facing three charges related to complaints of historic sexual offences.
The complaints range from 1997 to 2001. According to previous court records, Michelin was an RCMP officer stationed in North West River at the time.
He's facing one charge of sexual assault, one charge of sexually touching a person under the age of 14, and one charge of breaching public trust. All charges relate to the same alleged victim.
The charges were laid after an investigation by the Serious Incident Response Team — a civilian oversight agency headed by lawyer Mike King, which investigates allegations against police officers.
Michelin had previously been convicted of trafficking cocaine in New Brunswick in 2013 and sentenced to four years in prison. According to reports from his court case, Michelin had instructed undercover officers posing as criminals on police techniques to avoid detection, and told them he used to have a drug distribution network in Labrador.
At the time of the sting operation, Michelin was suspended from his job as an RCMP officer at Tobique First Nation, N.B., for unrelated code of conduct violations.
The investigation involved 22 undercover officers, with Michelin as the sole target. In the end, they pulled off a transaction for 30 ounces of cocaine at the Irving Big Stop in Salisbury, N.B. The entire deal was captured on video.
"I got lost," Michelin told the judge at the time. "You'll never see me again."
Michelin's defence lawyer told the judge he was suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder and a severe alcohol problem. The judge said Michelin understood the addictions problems facing people from First Nations communities, and planned to use that knowledge for profit.
Michelin is scheduled to appear in court on June 22 to face his three newest charges.
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Cocaine trafficking charges laid against Mountie
Const. Albert Michelin stationed at Tobique First Nation in New Brunswick since 2010
Const. Albert Michelin, 50, was charged this morning with trafficking cocaine and two counts of possession of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking.
Michelin was handcuffed as he made a brief appearance in provincial court in Moncton on Monday afternoon for a bail hearing. That hearing did not proceed, and was adjourned until Wednesday.
Michelin, a 23-year veteran of the RCMP, had been stationed as a constable on the Tobique First Nation since 2010.
Before that, Michelin served as an RCMP officer in Labrador for 18 years.
He has been suspended from duty, with pay, since early 2012 due to unrelated code of conduct investigations, states an RCMP release.
"These are very serious charges, and all the more serious because they involve an RCMP member," said the statement issued today.
Michelin was arrested Friday in Moncton following an investigation by the RCMP's federal operations unit that began in January 2013.
He will remain in custody until Wednesday's bail hearing.
Retired Mountie with checkered past charged with sexual offences involving a minor
Albert Michelin was previously sentenced to 4 years in prison on drug charges
Ryan Cooke · CBC News · Posted: May 11, 2023 10:18 AM ADT
Cocaine trafficking case against N.B. Mountie delayed again
Const. Albert Michelin's bail hearing adjourned at lawyer's request
A suspended member of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police who is facing three cocaine trafficking-related charges in New Brunswick has had his bail hearing adjourned again.
Constable Albert Michelin, 50, is charged with trafficking cocaine and two counts of possession of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking.
The 23-year veteran of the RCMP made a brief appearance in Moncton provincial court on Wednesday, handcuffed and wearing civilian clothing — a red checkered button-up shirt and jeans.
No details about the allegations were relayed.
Michelin had been stationed on the Tobique First Nation in the northwestern part of the province, near the Maine border, since 2010.
He previously spent 18 years as an officer in Labrador, where he grew up.
Defence lawyer David Lutz requested the matter be set over. He said he wants to get all of the facts first to avoid wasting the court's time. He plans to meet with Michelin over the weekend to discuss his case, he said.
Michelin will return to court on Dec. 10 to set a date for a bail hearing.
He did not address the court on Wednesday, other than to say he has a hearing problem. He was provided with a hearing device for the proceedings.
Michelin was arrested last Friday in Moncton following an 11-month investigation by the RCMP's federal operations unit in Nova Scotia.
The New Brunswick RCMP had asked the unit in January to investigate allegations that Michelin was trafficking in illicit drugs.
Michelin has been suspended from duty, with pay, since early 2012 due to unrelated code of conduct investigations, the RCMP have said.
He was originally scheduled to have a bail hearing on Monday, when he was charged, but the matter was adjourned until Wednesday.
RCMP officer charged with cocaine trafficking waives bail
Const. Albert Michelin, arrested Nov. 29, will remain in custody until at least Jan. 29
A suspended New Brunswick Mountie facing three charges related to cocaine trafficking will remain in custody until at least the end of January.
Albert Michelin, 50, is charged with one count of trafficking cocaine and two counts of possession of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking.
He was arrested after an investigation by the RCMP's federal operations unit in Nova Scotia.
His lawyer, David Lutz, temporarily waived his client's right to a bail hearing in Moncton provincial court on Tuesday.
This is the third time Michelin's bail hearing has been adjourned. Lutz said he wants more time for disclosure.
Michelin, who was arrested in Moncton on Nov. 29 following an 11-month investigation, is scheduled to return to court on Jan. 29.
His lawyer hopes to address the bail hearing at that time and set a trial date.
Michelin, a 23-year veteran of the RCMP, who served most recently on the Tobique First Nation in the northwestern part of the province, has not yet entered any pleas.
He did, however, elect Tuesday to be tried by a provincial court judge.
Michelin has been suspended from duty, with pay, since early 2012 due to unrelated code of conduct investigations, the RCMP have said.
He previously served in Labrador for 18 years.
Ex-Mountie facing cocaine charges remains behind bars until March
Const. Albert Michelin, arrested on Nov. 29, waives bail hearing again
A former New Brunswick Mountie facing cocaine charges, who has been in custody for almost three months, will remain behind bars until at least March.
Albert Michelin, 50, made a brief appearance in Moncton provincial court on Tuesday, but once again his lawyer temporarily waived his right to a bail hearing.
Alison Menard says she needs more disclosure before the case can proceed and requested an adjournment until March 18.
Michelin, a 23-year veteran of the RCMP, is charged with one count of trafficking cocaine and two counts of possession of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking.
He was suspended with pay at the time of his arrest due to unrelated code of conduct investigations, but has since resigned, RCMP officials confirmed on Tuesday.
Michelin has not entered any pleas, but previously elected to be tried by judge alone.
He sat quietly in the prisoner's box, dressed in a plaid shirt, as his lawyer told the court she's still receiving information about the case.
This is the fifth time Michelin's bail hearing has been set over. He has been in custody since Nov. 29.
He was arrested in Moncton following an 11-month investigation by the RCMP's federal operations unit in Nova Scotia.
Michelin was last stationed as a constable in Tobique First Nation. He previously served in Labrador for 18 years.
Ex-Mountie pleads guilty to cocaine trafficking-related charge
Albert Michelin, a 23-year veteran of the RCMP, will be sentenced on Aug. 20
A former New Brunswick Mountie has pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking.
Albert Michelin, 50, entered the plea in Moncton provincial court on Tuesday, while wearing handcuffs.
A second count of possession for the purpose of trafficking and one count of trafficking were dropped.
Michelin, a 23-year veteran of the RCMP, will remain in custody until his sentencing on Aug. 20, at 1:30 p.m.
He asked Judge Anne Dugas-Horsman if he would have a chance to address the court at his sentencing. Dugas-Horsman replied yes.
Michelin thanked the judge.
He was arrested on Nov. 29 following an 11-month investigation by the RCMP's federal operations unit in Nova Scotia and has remained in custody.
Michelin was suspended with pay at the time of his arrest due to unrelated code of conduct investigations, but has since resigned.
Michelin was last stationed as a constable in Tobique First Nation in the northwestern part of the province, near the Maine border. He previously served in Labrador for 18 years.
Albert Michelin, former Mountie, sentenced to 4 years for cocaine-related charge
23-year veteran Albert Michelin pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking
A former New Brunswick Mountie has been sentenced to four years in prison for possession of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking.
Const. Albert Michelin, pictured here in 2004, was a 23-year veteran of the RCMP. (CBC)
He instructed criminals on police techniques to avoid detection, Crown prosecutor Nicole Angers told the Moncton provincial courtroom during a sentencing hearing on Wednesday.
Michelin, an Innu man who was previously stationed in Labrador for 18 years, also planned to use his knowledge to profit from First Nations' addictions problems, she said.
Judge Anne Dugas-Horsman described the case as "incredibly sad," as Michelin's two adult daughters fought back tears.
She noted Michelin had been only the second member of the Innu community to become an RCMP officer, but is now "an object of shame" to the police force.
I got lost.
- Albert Michelin
The judge stressed his breach of public trust and how he was "prepared to exploit his vulnerable people" and make them more fragile for his gain.
"I got lost," Michelin, 51, told the court, reading from a written statement for about 30 minutes.
"I never went out looking for a line to cross," he said.
Michelin, who has struggled with addiction and psychiatric problems for years, blamed working under high-risk and high-stress conditions with a heavy caseload and lack of sleep.
"I don't even recognize who that person is," he said, referring to videotaped surveillance of him that was played in the courtroom.
He said going to jail has saved his life. He "feels free for the first time in years," and wants to "move forward in a meaningful way" with the love and support of his family and friends, he said.
"You'll never see me again," Michelin told the court.
Defence lawyer Alison Menard said Michelin is aware of the gravity of his offence.
He was suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, a severe alcohol problem, and ongoing psychiatric issues at the time, she said.
It was the lowest point in his life, said Menard, noting he had tried to commit suicide just a few weeks before his arrest.
She and the Crown made a joint recommendation for a four-year sentence, which the judge said was "appropriate."
Michelin was given 398 days of credit for time already served.
He has been in custody since Nov. 29, 2013.
11-month sting operation
Michelin was arrested following an 11-month investigation by the RCMP's federal operations unit in Nova Scotia.
A second count of possession for the purpose of trafficking and one count of trafficking were dropped.
Operation Haze, which involved 22 undercover police officers, audio and video surveillance, had one target — Michelin, the courtroom heard.
Police set up a fictitious distribution company, hired Michelin's son and eventually approached Michelin, who was suspended from the RCMP at the time, about working there.
Two of the undercover officers told Michelin they were running drugs through the company, unbeknownst to management.
Michelin told them he used to have a drug distribution system in Labrador, where he had worked, and that he knew how to cook crack.
He said he was interested in getting back in the "business" and to prove he was trustworthy, he told them about some of the techniques police use in order to help them avoid being detected.
During a meeting at Casino New Brunswick in Moncton on Nov. 28, 2013, which was recorded, Michelin can be heard talking about drug prices and how easy it is to hide and deliver drugs.
It was one of 53 interactions between Michelin and the undercover officers during the operation, the courtroom heard.
A videotape of a transaction involving 30 ounces of cocaine at the Salisbury Big Stop on Nov. 29, 2013, was also played for the court.
Michelin was suspended with pay at the time of his arrest due to unrelated code of conduct investigations, but he subsequently resigned.
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