N.S. lobster dealer granted bail in buyer intimidation case

A 65-year-old lobster dealer from southwest Nova Scotia charged with several counts of intimidation linked to the industry has been granted bail, but is barred from dozens of fishing wharves and forbidden from going to almost every lobster wholesaler in the province.

Eric David Thibault was arrested last week after RCMP alleged he and his son threatened a lobster buyer whose home near Meteghan, N.S., was shot up days earlier.

Thibault also faces previous charges, including allegations he threatened a lobster fisherman who was seeking to change buyers, and three counts of witness intimidation from January involving two people at the harbour in Meteghan.

On Monday in provincial court in Yarmouth, N.S., Crown and defence lawyers said they'd come to an agreement on his release from custody pending trial. He is due to return to court for a plea on Thursday.

As part of his release Thibault agreed to deposit $20,000 in cash, keep the peace and be of good behaviour and to live at a home in Little Brook, N.S.

He is forbidden from having any contact with nine people, or going to their homes or workplaces, and is not allowed to have contact with any employee of the Meteghan Harbour Authority.

Thibault is also barred from going to any federally incorporated wharf, small craft harbour or attending any business where there are wholesale transactions related to the fisheries. The only exception is to work at Wedgeport Lobster Ltd.

Reg LeBlanc, the president of Wedgeport Lobster, confirmed in a phone call that Thibault worked for his company. But he also indicated the allegations don't relate to Wedgeport Lobster, and that Thibault is "on his own."

LeBlanc said he last spoke with Thibault last week, but declined to say any more.

Thibault's 32-year-old son, Zacharie David Thibault, is also charged in the Nov. 27 incident. The pair are accused of trying intimidate lobster buyer Geoffrey Jobert into not purchasing from a particular fisherman.

Neither are charged in the shooting the weekend prior at Jobert's home in the village of Mavillette.

After his arrest last week, Zacharie Thibault was also charged with threatening to kill Jobert last March, trying to extort him this summer, harassing him, and intimidating him into not buying lobster from a certain fisherman.

Zacharie Thibault remains in custody and is scheduled to return to court on Thursday.