A Moncton man finally faced a judge for breaking early pandemic border rules and skipping his trial. Tristan Gregory Baillie appeared in Moncton provincial court and received his sentence after pleading guilty to multiple charges.

Border Violations and Additional Crimes

According to CBC News, Baillie admitted to giving a fake name to an officer at the Aulac border crossing between New Brunswick and Nova Scotia on April 5 2020. During this time strict COVID 19 border restrictions were in place. He also admitted he failed to self isolate after entering the province.

Image source: CBC News

His legal troubles continued later that year. Baillie pleaded guilty to charges of mischief and uttering threats stemming from events on July 21 2020.

Skipping Trial and Recent Arrest

The court scheduled Baillie to stand trial in June 2022. He failed to appear prompting officials to issue an arrest warrant. This failure to appear resulted in an additional charge.

Prosecutor Katie Myers noted that police arrested Baillie on May 3 of this year. The arrest happened after he called the police for an entirely unrelated matter. He spent three days in jail before pleading guilty and securing release on bail pending his sentencing.

The Sentence

The man in his late 20s had no prior criminal record and expressed remorse for his actions. The Crown and defence presented a joint recommendation for his sentence.

Judge Marc Savoie accepted the recommendation. Baillie must pay fines totaling 882 dollars and 50 cents. He also received a conditional discharge contingent on successfully completing nine months of supervised probation. A conditional discharge ensures he will not carry a permanent criminal record.

“I hope Mr. Baillie that this was a learning experience for you,” Savoie told the court. The judge added that the pandemic violation and the use of a false name were sensitive issues at that specific time.

Frequently Asked Questions

What exactly did the man do at the border?

He gave a fake name to an officer at the New Brunswick and Nova Scotia border in April 2020 and failed to self isolate upon entering the province.

Why was he sentenced years after the original offense?

He skipped his scheduled trial in June 2022. Police arrested him in May 2024 after he called them for an unrelated issue.

What does a conditional discharge mean?

A conditional discharge means the individual will not have a permanent criminal record if they successfully complete the terms of their probation.