Blake Scott said he was in trouble with the break and enter law, but he served time in jail and that’s been behind him for three years. So it came as a surprise to him to be targeted by members of the community who allegedly attacked and pointed a shotgun at him. “I haven’t broken the law and it’s been a few years now … and I get charged 85 percent of the time when something is lost, something is stolen, my name is mixed up,” Scott, 36, said in an interview. Billy McGillicuddy of St. Croix, about 10 kilometers west of McAdam, is accused of possessing a weapon, a baseball bat, with intent to commit an offence, and assaulting Blake Scott with a weapon, a baseball bat. He is also charged with assaulting Scott with a weapon, a chair, unlawfully restraining him, pointing a sawed-off shotgun at him and possessing a sawed-off shotgun with intent to commit a felony. Billy McGillicuddy, 41, of St. Croix faces six felony charges, including possession of a weapon with intent to commit a felony, assault with a weapon, unlawful restraint and unlawful assault with a firearm. (Billy McGillicuddy/Facebook) All charges stem from incidents that occurred in McAdam on June 4. One of McGillicuddy’s first court appearances last month drew about 50 people, including McAdam Mayor Ken Stannix, who gathered outside the Fredericton courthouse to show their support. Stanix said at the time that villagers were fed up with property crimes by frequent offenders, adding that he “wanted to support the people who allegedly took the law into their own hands.” Dwain Gardner, 46, of McAdam was also charged in the same case, charged with forcible restraint, pointing a firearm, assault with a weapon and possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose. McGillicuddy has pleaded not guilty to all charges and will remain in custody until January, when a trial date will be set. Gardner is scheduled to enter a plea to the charges in September. McAdam Mayor Ken Stannix was among the supporters who showed up outside the Fredericton courthouse in June during a McGillicuddy appearance. (Joe McDonald/CBC)
Scott’s version of events
Scott said he went to a friend’s house on June 4 because he had heard there was an argument between the friend and McGillicuddy. Outside the home, McGillicuddy approached him with a baseball bat and hit him in the leg with it, Scott said. Scott said he called police to report the alleged assault when McGillicuddy left. Later that day, according to Scott, Gardner, a partner of McGillicuddy’s, invited him to his home to discuss the dispute in hopes of settling it. Scott said that when he got there, he went into the garage, where Gardner pointed a loaded shotgun at him. Scott said McGillicuddy appeared shortly after and the two men wrestled him to the ground and hit him with a chair. McGillicuddy ended up with the shotgun, which he pointed at Scott while ordering him to strip. Scott said he was then ordered to walk outside to a truck. At that point, Scott said, he ran down the street to a house owned by a family friend and called the RCMP. None of these allegations have been proven in court. Scott said he’s not sure why he was attacked, but suspects it’s because of his previous convictions and because his friends include people who have been charged with similar crimes. But he said he doesn’t think it’s fair that he was targeted or that the community has lumped him in with others who may commit property crimes. “People can … change, you know, the way they change their lives, do better for themselves,” Scott said. “It’s awfully hard when everyone keeps putting them down, down, down.” A Fredericton provincial court official confirmed to CBC News that Scott was convicted of three different counts of break and enter and has no subsequent break and enter or theft convictions on his record. Scott said the only charge he has been convicted of since the burglaries was a charge of driving while his license was suspended.
Prolonged fear of safety
Scott said the experience was traumatic and is seeking mental health treatment because of it. He said some people show hostility toward him online and in person, and he tries to stay away from security cameras. “Well, if someone runs me off or something, I know at least they’re going to get something for it, you know?” I could have buried my son.- Deborah Sutherland, mother of Blake Scott Scott’s mother, Deborah Sutherland, also fears her son could be the target of further attacks. “Number one, I could have buried my son,” he said. “Number two, he never did anything wrong. All he was trying to do was help.” Sutherland said Scott has been living with her since he finished his sentence for the burglaries. Since then, he said, he’s stayed out of trouble and started turning his life around. “I think some people are sometimes too quick to judge others … when they have no idea. “Blake is kind-hearted, he wears his heart on his sleeve, he would do anything to help anyone and everyone who cares about Blake, it’s because they know him, they know he’s not a troublemaker, they know he’s trying to find him. help and turn his life around.”
