Bullocks, Weaver face fisheries charges
Old Town business owners allegedly bought fish from fisher who authorities say did not have proper licence
Shane Magee
Northern News Services
Wednesday, August 19, 2015
SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
Old Town business owners Sam Bullock and Bud Weaver have been charged with buying fish from a person without a commercial fishing licence.
(Top photo) Bullocks Bistro and operator Sam Bullock allegedly violated the federal Fisheries Act by buying fish from someone who did not have a commercial fishing licence. (Bottom photo) Bud Weaver, operator of Weaver & Devore Trading Ltd., has also been charged with violating the federal Fisheries Act. - Shane Magee/NNSL photos
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It's alleged the two separately purchased fish from Narcisse Chocolate, who is also facing Fisheries Act charges for selling fish without the proper licence.
All three appeared in territorial court Aug. 11 and set dates for future appearances on the charges dated last year and earlier this year, according to court records.
Both Bullock and Weaver declined an interview about the allegations outside the courtroom.
Weaver was given a binder about three inches thick with information the Crown prosecution will use for its case.
Weaver told Judge Bernadette Schmaltz he has yet to speak to a lawyer about the charge and would like to consult with one about the information he was given. A charge against Weaver & Devore Trading Ltd. was withdrawn.
That appeared to leave Weaver confused.
"I bought fish on behalf of Weaver & Devore so I don't understand how they can do this," he said to the judge.
Weaver said what comes next will depend on the outcome of the charges against Chocolate.
Chocolate is set to appear in territorial court again Oct. 13 in Behchoko. Weaver will next appear Oct. 20 to enter a plea.
Bullock, whose restaurant Bullocks Bistro is jointly charged, also sought time to review information provided by the Crown. Bullock is set to return to court Sept. 15 to enter a plea.
If convicted, the maximum penalty for the charges against the two businessmen if the Crown proceeds summarily would be a fine of up to $100,000 for a first offence.
Subsequent offences carry the same fine maximum plus the option for a judge to sentence a person to up to a year in jail.
If the Crown proceeds as an indictable offence, the maximum fine jumps to $500,000 for a first offence. Subsequent offences also carry the option for up to two years in jail.
In February 2014, a Yellowknife Farmers Market vendor pleaded guilty and was handed a $700 fine for selling fish purchased from an unlicenced fisher in Kakisa.
As Yellowknifer previously reported, Department of Fisheries and Oceans officers tracked the man over the spring of 2013 using Facebook and other online ads to monitor his activity.
Then two plainclothes officers surveilled his fish stand at the market at Somba K'e Civic Plaza for more than 90 minutes in June of that year.
