Petit-Cap smokehouse arson charges dropped

Charges against three men accused of starting a fire that destroyed a fish smokehouse in southeastern New Brunswick in July have been dropped.

Cody Dubchak, Austin Dernier and Stéphane Gallant had faced arson charges in connection with a fire at the Elphège & Norbert LeBlanc smokehouse in Petit-Cap on July 9. 

Dubchak's charge was withdrawn in October.

A three-day trial had been scheduled to start Jan. 15 for Dernier and Gallant.

However, Moncton provincial court staff confirmed the arson charges against them were withdrawn Tuesday.

Firefighters were called to the smokehouse east of Shediac just after 5 a.m. on July 9. 

The fire destroyed the smokehouse that employed about 40 people.