Digby County man denied bail in $10K lobster extortion case
Man Denied Bail in $10,000 Extortion Case Linked to Nova Scotia Lobster Fishery
A judge has denied bail for Kevin Eric Langford, one of three men charged in a $10,000 extortion case connected to the southwest Nova Scotia lobster fishery. The decision was made by Judge James Burrill on Friday, ruling that Langford, 32, should remain in custody until his trial. The details of the bail hearing in Yarmouth provincial court have been restricted from publication.
Langford, a resident of Church Point, N.S., was arrested along with Zacharie David Thibault, 32, and his father, Eric David Thibault, 65, after an incident where a man was threatened at his Saulnierville, N.S., home on Jan. 30.
The Thibaults are also currently in custody, with their bail hearings being postponed to a later date at the request of their legal representatives.
The charges against the three men include threatening to harm the alleged victim’s property, including shooting up his home, setting it on fire, and killing his dogs. They are also accused of extortion and intimidation.
According to police statements earlier this week, the complainant, a former fisherman, informed authorities that the accused individuals believed he had been speaking negatively about them, leading to lost lobster sales. The police allege that Langford and Zacharie Thibault went to the victim’s home to extort $10,000 under the direction of Eric Thibault, who is already facing multiple intimidation charges in other cases.
The local RCMP detachment commander in Meteghan has described the Thibaults as a crime family in the area seeking to exploit the profitable lobster industry. However, it is important to note that these allegations have not yet been proven in court, and none of the accused individuals have entered their pleas.
