Donnie Snook to enter plea on sex-related charges in March

Former Saint John councillor Donnie Snook is expected to enter pleas on eight child exploitation charges on March 11 and will remain in jail until then.

Snook was scheduled to have a bail hearing on Monday, but defence lawyer Dennis Boyle withdrew that request.

"It's going to take a number of weeks to get this matter together," Boyle told the provincial court as Snook sat quietly in the prisoner's box, not making eye contact with any of the estimated 40 spectators.

Crown prosecutor Karen Lee Lamrock said it will take investigators four to six weeks before they're in a position to bring the case forward.

It's unclear whether she was referring to the eight charges currently before the court or the new sexual abuse allegations Snook is facing.

Provincial court Judge Alfred Brien asked Snook if he understood that setting the matter over would mean he will remain in custody at the Saint John Regional Correctional Centre. Snook agreed.

Snook, 41, is charged with three counts of touching a child for a sexual purpose, one count of making child pornography, two counts of distributing child pornography, and two counts of possession.

The two-term councillor, who resigned last week, and now-suspended director of the Saint John Inner City Youth Ministry, has not yet entered any pleas.

Police are also investigating "several" new allegations against Snook, Saint John Police Sgt. Jay Henderson announced over the weekend.

"Since news of the arrest of Donald Snook last week, the Saint John Police Force and the RCMP have been contacted by several people, alleging they have been sexually abused by the 40-year-old-accused," Henderson had said.

The Saint John Police Force and the New Brunswick RCMP'S Internet Child Exploitation Unit have formed a joint forces operation to investigate, he said.

Parents, children in community 'confused'

Darrell Bastarache, who has known Snook since the late 1990s, told reporters he wasn't surprised by the new allegations.

"Whether they're all valid or not is another thing, but I've expected more of this coming," he said outside the courthouse.

Bastarache said Snook looked "blank" during his brief court appearance.

Several parents and children who have had dealings with Snook over the years are also still reeling, he said.

"The parents are confused, the children are confused," said Bastarache.

"And I honestly believe the school board should get on board on having more qualified people address the situation as to what’s going on with Donnie Snook and the children."

Although the school board held a meeting last Thursday, Bastarache said he believes more should be done.

"My children would tell me if something was wrong," he said.

"But there’s other people out there, parents very concerned, very mad, very angry, very sad. There’s children out there very mad, very angry, very sad."

Snook was arrested by the RCMP’s Internet Child Exploitation Unit on Jan. 9. Police seized computer equipment and child sexual abuse images during a search of his Martha Avenue home, Cpl. Chantal Farrah said.