Man pleads guilty to 2 charges in Riverview teacher shooting case

A Moncton man admitted Thursday he shot a teacher outside a Riverview high school almost four years ago. 

Janson Bryan Baker, 28, changed his plea on two charges during an appearance in Moncton's Court of King's Bench. 

"I plead guilty, your honour," Baker said to Justice Richard Petrie. 

Baker admitted to deliberately discharging a sawed-off 12-gauge shotgun with intent to wound or maim Christopher Leger and Joshua Hebb on Jan. 5, 2021, in Riverview. 

He also admitted to possessing a firearm while on a lifetime prohibition from doing so. 

Baker had faced 16 charges in connection with the shooting, including attempted murder.

His trial by judge alone began in May but it was halted while his defence lawyer sought an expert witness. The trial was set to resume in February. 

However, defence lawyer Alex Pate told Petrie on Thursday that discussions with prosecutors led the sides to reach a "resolution" that would see Baker admit to two of the charges. 

Petrie asked Baker a series of questions to confirm his change of plea. 

"I will accept your guilty plea on those two charges," the judge said.

The remaining 14 charges, including the attempted murder charge, are expected to be withdrawn by the Crown when Baker is sentenced.

Sentencing set for February

Leger was present in court as the pleas were entered but he declined to comment.

Crown prosecutor Malika Levesque said the prosecution and defence expect to provide the judge with a joint recommendation for Baker's sentence.

A sentencing hearing has been scheduled for Feb. 5.

During the trial, Baker admitted that he carried out the shooting but disputed he had the intent necessary for it to be a crime. The delay in the trial was to allow Pate to secure an expert witness on that issue. 

An agreed statement of facts presented during the trial says Baker was the lone occupant of a Hyundai Elantra on Jan. 5, 2021, on the Riverview High School property when he drove up to Leger and Hebb, threatened them, pointed the shotgun at them and then shot Leger.

It says Baker then fled and was located in Amherst, N.S., the following day. He has been in custody since then.

The shooting was the first time the RCMP directly issued an emergency alert in New Brunswick as they searched for Baker. 

Leger testified during the trial that he had just left the school after coaching a varsity boys basketball team with Hebb. Leger said a vehicle pulled up beside them and demanded they hand over their belongings. 

Leger said he began to remove his bag, which he said had sneakers in it, but felt like he was about to be shot anyway and started to turn away. He said he felt pressure in his arm and realized he had been shot. 

The car immediately drove off without Leger or Hebb's belongings.

Leger testified he had been shot in the arm, left shoulder, and cheek. He testified that 19 pellets were left in his arm and that he was left with reduced mobility and nerve damage.

Baker faces separate charges of first-degree murder in the killing of Bernard Saulnier, 78, and Rose-Marie Saulnier, 74, on Sept. 7, 2019. 

He's expected to return to court on those charges next month, when trial dates may be set.