When you re-examine 2012, the one news story that stands out as representing a dark moment in our history came to light in late September. That's when a teenage boy suddenly showed up on an elderly woman's doorstep in Upper Chelsea pleading for help. The 16- year-old claimed he'd been held captive in chains for days and sexually assaulted in a neighbouring home. The RCMP issued a Canada-wide warrant for the arrests of two suspects. One of them, 31-year-old Wayne Allan Cunningham was found dead a week later, along a woods road in Northern Ontario. The other suspect, 47-year-old David James Leblanc, was apprehended in the same area two days later. The incident raised fears among Lunenburg County residents that "big-city" type incidents had finally found their way to the area. District of Lunenburg Mayor Don Downe tried to ease everyone's concerns.
Since early October, Leblanc has been in and out of court in Bridgewater. He's facing seven charges, including sexual assault, sexual assault causing bodily harm, forcible confinement and kidnapping. Leblanc is back in court January 16th when dates will be set for a preliminary hearing. Another man, 63-year-old Leonard McKean of Lower Sackville, has also been charged in the case. He's out on bail and is back in Bridgewater court January 23rd.
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